Shown (l-r):  Dr. Jim Santoro, Harbin Radiation Oncology; Kaylan Albritton; Dr.  J.C. Abdou, Harbin Radiation Oncology and Sandra Bethune, tobacco project manager for Northwest Georgia Cancer Coalition.  Dr. Mark Fisher of Rome also conducted screenings.

A recent Northwest Georgia Public Health promotion with the Northwest Georgia Cancer Coalition and the Rome Braves, as well as the lure of summertime Class A baseball, drew thousands of folks to a tobacco-cessation and cancer-screening event at a recent Rome Braves game.

Nearly 150 kids received tobacco-cessation education and signed pledge cards not to use tobacco products.  Of all the attendees screened by local physicians for oral-neck-and-throat cancer, none were found to need referral for subsequent treatment.

One lucky young lady, Kaylan Albritton, was among a half-dozen youth pledging not to use tobacco who also won a gift basket of assorted items. Lisa Greeby with Northwest Georgia Public Health and Gena Agnew with Northwest Georgia Cancer Coalition coordinated the event.

-Story by Logan Boss, Public Information Officer, Northwest Georgia Public Health District