Press Releases

February 24, 2009

Musicians Partner with the Colon Cancer Alliance To Raise Awareness about America's Number Two Cancer Killer

Nashville, TN -- The music industry has joined forces with the Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) to help raise awareness of colorectal cancer, a disease that kills as many as breast cancer and AIDS combined. One out of 18 Americans will be diagnosed with the disease and most will be diagnosed at the later stages when treatments are less effective. Yet colorectal cancer is highly preventable, and easily treatable if people screen for the disease. MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, is working with the CCA to develop an awareness campaign to help elevate the profile of colorectal cancer and educate the music industry and the public about the importance of screening.

"We are excited to partner with the music industry to help raise awareness of colorectal cancer. We hope the powerful voice of the celebrities will reach every American and make them think about screening for what is a very preventable, yet potentially deadly disease. Charlie's story is a textbook example of the importance of early detection and his willingness to share his experience will help break down barriers about screening" remarked Andrew Spiegel, the CEO of the Colon Cancer Alliance. CCA along with Charlie Kelley are in talks about expanding the concert series to other cities.

The program kicks off with The Stars Go Blue for Colon Cancer benefit concert on March 24, 2009 at 7:00pm at the historic Ford Theatre in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum in Nashville, TN. This exclusive evening features an intimate, acoustic concert by celebrities Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Hal Ketchum and Charlie Kelley. Tickets are available now by calling the CCA at 877-677-3488. Priced at $100, tickets include the concert, a reception/meet and greet with the artists, photo and autograph opportunities. Proceeds from the concert will benefit both MusiCares and the Colon Cancer Alliance.

The concert series was inspired and conceived by four time Grammy nominee Charlie Kelley, who at age 40 was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, eerily only 3 weeks after his wife Nan Kelley, a host on the Great American Country (GAC) cable network, successfully completed treatment for a different form of cancer. Charlie was lucky to have been diagnosed at an early stage and is expected to make a full recovery, but understands he is one of the lucky few whose disease was caught in time.

"I know how blessed I am to have caught my cancer early, before it had a chance to spread, and I see this ordeal as a second chance in life and a calling to help prevent others from getting this disease," said Charlie Kelley. "I plan to do everything in my power to help spread the word about the importance of early screening for colon cancer and am excited to partner with the Colon Cancer Alliance and MusiCares to support their important missions." Kelley had no symptoms of colon cancer, but he and his doctor decided to screen for the disease because of a history of polyps in a family member.

The CCA is the nation's oldest and largest non-profit patient advocacy organization dedicated to colorectal cancer.  MusiCares, a non-profit organization and charitable arm of the Recording Academy, the governing organization of the Grammy Awards provides assistance for music people in times of need and is working with the CCA on an awareness and screening campaign to ensure that all members of the music industry are provided with information about colorectal cancer and the importance of screening. Kelley and the CCA are in talks about expanding the concert series to other cities.

About the Colon Cancer Alliance
The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) is a national non-profit patient advocacy organization dedicated to ending the suffering caused by colorectal cancer. In order to increase rates of screening and survivorship, the CCA provides patient support services, public education and awareness campaigns, supports research and colorectal cancer related advocacy across the United States.
 
The CCA works as an advocate for colorectal cancer patients and their families and offers information and support from the first-hand experience of survivors and others whose lives have been touched by this disease.
 
Today, including on line communities, the CCA has over 50,000 members. Its toll free help line receives an average of 700 calls monthly, and its support networks have assisted hundreds of thousands of people. The organization has multiple local chapters, a large on line support community, live peer-to-peer assistance and multiple other support and awareness programs, including the Undy5000 5k walk/runs throughout the county. For more information visit the CCA's website at www.ccalliance.org or call 202-434-8980.

About MusiCares
MusiCares is a charitable arm of the Recording Academy and provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information about MusiCares, visit its website at www.grammy.com/MusiCares or call 310.392.3777.

CONTACTS:

'Stars Go Blue' Concert Contact:
Jensen Sussman
Sweet Talk Publicity
(615) 915-9318 / jensen@sweettalkpublicity.com

CCA Contact: Andrew Spiegel, CEO
(202) 628-0123 /(610)-668-8600 aspiegel@ccalliance.org

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