The "Help is Here Express" bust tour will be at Alliance Medical Ministry on Thursday September 17th from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, along with American TV icon and former "Leave it to Beaver" star Jerry Mathers, to help uninsured and financially- struggling Wake County residents access information on programs that provide prescription medicines for free or nearly free.
The Bus tour is part of the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) - a nationwide effort sponsored by America's pharmaceutical research companies - raising awareness of patient assistance programs and the need to effectively address the rising and alarming rates of chronic disease in the United States. Patients can also learn about new medicines in devlopment to fight chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and asthma.
Jerry Mathers, who suffers from diabetes and is traveling with the PPA bus to raise awareness of this devestating chronic disease, is an American icon, best known for his portrayal of "Beaver" in "Leave it to Beaver".
To date, the PPA has helped nearly 6 million people across America, including more than 231,000 patients in North Carolina. Since it's launch in 2005, the PPA bus tour has visited all 50 states and more than 2,000 cities to raise awareness about patient assistance programs. The "Help is Here Express" is staffed by trained specialists able to quickly help uninsured patients in need access information on more than 475 programs, including nearly 200 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
Patients can visit PPA's easy-to-use Web site at www.pparx.org or call toll-free 1-888-4PPA-NOW where trained operators field calls in 150 languages.
Partnering with The Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, Alliance Medical Ministry will welcome a Community Garden to it's grounds later this month. On September 19th, community members from Edenton Street United Methodist Church and kids from the adjacent Boys & Girls Club will be among those helping to plant the first fall vegetables. The garden will have a spring planting as well. Regular volunteers are needed to help tend the garden throughout the year and are welcome to show up at Alliance Saturday the 19th at 9:00 am to help out.
Work is moving right along for the last Capital Campaign project at Alliance, the Meditation Garden. Made possible with gifts from The Fenwick Foundation and Stuart and Tricia Phoenix, this area, situated just outside Alliance's Curtis chapel, will be a quiet place of medication and prayer for patients, staff and community members. Landscaping will be laid down in the Fall to avoid hot and dry summer conditions when planting is discouraged. It looks like we will be having an on-site event to celebrate the garden's completion, stay tuned for full details!
Health care reform is a major priority in Washington and North Carolina. There are estimated to be over 2 Million people in the state and 120,000 in Wake County without health insurance. Alliance patient Gail Johnson spoke at a Health Care Forum on July 22, 2009 in Raleigh and told her story about the financial, physical and emotional cost of being uninsured. Though working for the same company for the past five years, she does not have employer-sponsored medical benefits. In the past Gail was not able to afford routine diabetes medication and testing supplies that cost 30% of her total monthly income, nor did she have a primary care provider directing her care. During that time period, her health deteriorated to where her condition forced her to WakeMed’s Emergency Room.