Layout 1 (Page 2) - FORCE: Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered

WPB/PBG/JUPITER EDITION - JULY 2013
Health&j ellness 25
Helen Hunt portrays
Dr. Mary-Claire King
in the upcoming
drama “Decoding
Annie Parker.”
FORCE to Host Exclusive
Screening of Feature Film
in Palm Beach
Film provides Support, Advocacy for Those Affected
by Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer
F
acing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered (FORCE), is
proud to announce the exclusive premiere of the feature film Decoding Annie Parker. Forming a unique
collaboration, FORCE, the only non-profit organization devoted to helping those affected by hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), as well as their families, is bringing this
major motion picture to five cities across the United States,
including Palm Beach on October 12, 2013.
The film, starring such well known actors as Helen Hunt,
Samantha Morton, Bradley Whitfield, and Richard Schiff,
among many others, tells the true story of two remarkable
women--Dr. Mary Claire King and Annie Parker. The film
parallels the lives of these two women as they are both affected by hereditary breast cancer, Ms. Parker who battles
the disease, and Dr. King the geneticist whose research led
to the discovery of the BRCA1 breast cancer gene.
In the U.S. alone, there are approximately one million people
who are at increased risk for HBOC and 90% of these do
not even know it. Compared with people in the general population, individuals with a BRCA mutation and those with a
strong family history of these cancers face other challenges
as well, such as being diagnosed at a younger age, developing cancer more quickly and in more aggressive forms, and
having a 50% chance of inheriting a BRCA mutation from
an affected mother or father.
“With the screening of this feature film here in Palm
Beach, there is a tremendous opportunity to educate people
about the importance of knowing their family medical history and speaking to a genetics expert if a pattern of cancer
presents itself,” said Amy Byer Shainman, FORCE Outreach Coordinator.
Steven Bernstein, director of the film added, “We’ve created
a unique partnership between the entertainment industry and
charitable organizations. Through this partnership, we hope
to entertain, inform, educate and activate our audience, creating a campaign of goodwill and hope that will leave a lasting legacy.”
About Force
No one should have to face hereditary breast and
ovarian cancer alone. For more than 14 years,
FORCE has been the voice of the hereditary breast
and ovarian cancer community.
FORCE provides support, education and awareness
to help those facing hereditary breast and ovarian
cancer know their healthcare options and make informed decisions.
The film screening will be held at
7:00 pm at the Muvico Parisian 20
Theater CityPlace, West Palm Beach, FL
on October 12, 2013, wrapping up a five
city tour starting in Chicago, and
continuing on to Los Angeles, CA,
Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA.
To purchase tickets, please visit
www.dappalmbeach.eventbrite.com/
w w w.s fl H e a l th a n d We l l n e s s .c o m
The organization is the de facto leader in guiding
critical research and policy issues that impact the
hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer community.
For more information about FORCE and hereditary
breast and ovarian cancer, please visit
www.facingourrisk.org.