March 12, 2009

 

 

 

FREE BRAIN SCANS AVAILABLE

 IN WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

Mobile MRI Unit Is On The Move Again

 

The Road to Early Detection Campaign, a project of The Brain Tumor Foundation (BTF), is bringing the “Bobby Murcer” Mobile MRI Unit to Washington Heights.   Beginning Monday, March 16, the Unit will be parked at 601 West 174^th Street (South Curb Lane, between Wadsworth and St. Nicholas Avenues) and will remain there until Monday, March 30^th.

 

Michael Schreiber, Chairman of Road to Early Detection and The Brain Tumor Foundation, expressed his appreciation to City Councilmember Miguel Martinez, “for helping us to secure this location and for raising public awareness of this service and its importance to the community.”

 

The launch of the Mobile MRI Unit in November 2008 marked the start of the first-ever national campaign promoting early detection of brain tumors. Road to Early Detection focuses on outreach to communities – particularly for those under-served in the five boroughs.  This marks a return visit of the Unit to Manhattan, in part due to the high demand and growing wait list of people to be scanned.

 

Despite the increasing costs, The Mobile MRI Unit will continue to set up in places where people work, study and live in order to make brain scans, and thereby early detection, accessible and cost free.  Dr. Patrick J. Kelly, Founder and President of The Brain Tumor Foundation, maintains, “The only way to detect a tumor early is through the use of MRI brain scans.  Regrettably, by the time brain tumors become symptomatic, most are incurable.”   In the 4 short months since the Unit has been traveling, several brain tumors as well as MS, Alzheimer’s and other abnormalities have been discovered.

 

This year more than 300,000 Americans will be diagnosed with brain tumors.  About a million are walking around with one and don’t know it  – 25,000 of them are in New York City alone.  While there are no preventive measures as yet, the impact of brain tumors can be vastly reduced.  Detected and treated early – they can be completely eradicated.  MRI brain scans are safe, painless, non-invasive, emit no radiation and take only ten minutes.

 

Scans are available by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 877-SCAN-NYC (877-722-6692) or visiting  www.roadtoearlydetection.org.

 

 

 

BRONX: Highbridge, Hunts Point, Mott Haven, Melrose, Morrisania, Port Morris, and Soundview.

BROOKLYN: Bath Beach, Bayridge Towers, Bensonhurst, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Waterfront, Bulls Head, Concord, Coney Island, Dongan Hill, Dyker Heights, Emerson Hill, Gowanus Houses, Gravesend, Park Slope, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, and Wycoff Gardens.

 

MANHATTAN: Chelsea, Flatiron, Greenwich Village, Harlem, Hell's Kitchen, Inwood, Marble Hill, Midtown, Soho, and Washington Heights.

 

QUEENS: Addisleigh Park, Baisley Park, Bayside, Bellerose, Cambria Heights, Corona, Corona Heights, Corona Park, Douglaston, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Floral Park, Flushing Meadows, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Hollis, Hollis Hills, Hollis Park Gardens, Holliswood, Jackson Heights, Jamaica, Laurelton, Little Neck, New Hyde Park, Queens Village, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, St. Albans, and The Rockaways.

 

STATEN ISLAND: Arrochar, Bulls Head, Concord, Dongan Hill, Emerson Hill, Fort Wadsworth, Grant City, Graniteville, Grasmere, Island of Meadows, Midland Beach, New Dorp, Prall's Island, Richmondtown, South Beach, Staten Island Mall, Todt Hill, Travis, Westerleigh, and Willowbrook.

 

 

Please check www.roadtoearlydetection.org  for the most up-to-date information regarding the whereabouts of the Mobile MRI Unit, sponsorship opportunities and how you can help through the new Dollar Drive campaign.