On Monday 18th May, The Hepatitis C Trust will join forces with celebrities from the world of fashion, music, television and film to raise awareness of the cancer causing viruses, hepatitis B and C.
The GET TESTED! campaign is the UK leg of a global campaign aimed at encouraging members of the public to ask the question ‘Am I Number 12?’ and if they think they are at risk to get tested and find out if they are one of the 1 in 12 people affected with hepatitis B or C worldwide. The campaign is being supported by Sadie Frost, Jack Davenport, Zoe Ball, DJ Tyno, Michelle Gomez, Alan McGee, Lisa Moorish and Pearl Lowe, who are starring in an advertising campaign featuring on digital screens in pubs and bars across the UK.
On 18th May (the day before World Hepatitis Day – 19th May) Zoe Ball and Sadie Frost, as well as former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, will be supporting World Hepatitis Day by getting tested for hepatitis B and C on the first ever GET TESTED! bus tour.The double-decker GET TESTED! bus will be staffed by specialist nurses from St Mary’s hospital as well as patients from The Hepatitis C Trust, who will be offering the test and providing information to the general public, starting at the Gherkin (10-12pm) and travelling to Leicester Square (2-6pm).
The GET TESTED! bus will travel to Cardiff to test people on May 19th, World Hepatitis Day.On May 18th a bus in Glasgow will also promote the GET TESTED! message.
Hepatitis B and C are infectious blood borne viruses that mainly attack the liver.If undiagnosed and left untreated they can lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.There are estimated to be 500 million people worldwide living with one of the viruses and most of these people are undiagnosed.In the UK, most of the 600,000 to 800,000 people living with hepatitis B or C are unaware.
Chief Executive of The Hepatitis C Trust, Charles Gore said:“I am thrilled that Zoe Ball and Sadie Frost are leading the way in getting tested for hepatitis B and C.Too many people are needlessly dying because they do not realise they have these killer viruses.”
DJ and presenter, Zoe Ball said: “I know several people with hepatitis C and have seen the devastating effects it can have.Thousands of people have hepatitis C but don’t realise and they could unwittingly spread it to friends, family and their children. The message is simple and could save your life – GET TESTED!”
Actress Sadie Frost lost her father to hepatitis C and said:“My father died of hepatitis C because of a lack of awareness and not thinking of getting tested. GET TESTED! is a positive pro-active message.”
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| Bus tour timetable: 7.30/8.00:GET TESTED bus launches touring radio and morning TV stations 10.00:Nurses from St Mary’s Hospital and staff from The Hepatitis C Trust offer tests on the bus by the Gherkin (St Mary’s Axe, opposite the Slug and Lettuce) 12.00: GET TESTED bus leaves Gherkin site and tours London 14.00: GET TESTED bus offers tests on the North Terrace of Leicester Square 15:00-16:00:Ken Livingstone, Zoe Ball, Sadie Frost, Lisa Moorish, Alison Newman GET TESTED! Leicester Square 18:00:Bus testing finishes |
Notes to editors:
- Please contact Jane Allen at The Hepatitis C Trust (on 07779 595609) or Bronwyn Fieldgate (on 0207 395 7069) from the World Hepatitis Alliance for more details, including interviews with case studies, nurses, doctors or the celebrities.
- Journalists and photographers are welcome to visit the bus at any point in the day.To arrange an interview with Zoe Ball, Sadie Frost, Lisa Moorish, Alison Newman or Ken Livingstone please contact Bronwyn Fieldgate
About World Hepatitis Day
The second annual World Hepatitis Day will take place on Tuesday 19 May 2009, as part of an ongoing campaign launched by the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2008. An entirely patient-led initiative, World Hepatitis Day in 2009 aims to raise awareness of hepatitis B and C, as well as extend the political support for the diseases to levels seen in HIV / AIDS, TB and malaria. The long-term objective of the World Hepatitis Day Campaign is to prevent new infections and to deliver real improvements in health outcomes for people living with hepatitis B and C. The campaign theme for 2009 is ‘Am I Number 12?’ - designed to communicate the shocking statistic that one in 12 people worldwide are living with, or at risk from, either hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
About hepatitis B and C:
500 million people worldwide (1 in 12) are currently infected with hepatitis B or C.
Most of the 500 million infected do not know.
This is over 10 times the number infected with HIV/AIDS.
Between them, hepatitis B and C kill 1 million people a year.
It is estimated that there are 250,000-466,000 people living with Hepatitis C in the UK, but only around 100,000 have been diagnosed. Around 320,000 people are living with hepatitis B in the UK.
More details about hepatitis C can be found at www.hepctrust.org.uk
About The Hepatitis C Trust:The Hepatitis C Trust is the UK national charity for hepatitis C. It provides information, support and representation for all those affected by this disease. Started by patients, the majority of its governing Board of Trustees are patients and all of its staff, paid and voluntary, are patients.
The Hepatitis C Trust’s helpline is 0845 223 4424
Other UK events for World Hepatitis Day: Hepatitis B and C tests will also be offered in 15 selected pharmacies (in Tameside, Sandwell, Nottingham, Hackney and the Isle of Wight) from the 19th May for a ground-breaking pilot study.Please contact Jane Allen for more details of the project.
For details of local events, please contact Jane Allen.
Celebrities with hepatitis C:Dame Anita Roddick, Pamela Anderson, Keith Richards, Anthony Kiedis, Marianne Faithfull, Natalie Cole.
