Horizon NJ Health, the American Cancer Society and Trenton's Crusade Against Cancer Present Trenton's Real Men Cook: A Recipe for Success

40 Volunteer Chefs Serve Healthy Meals, Cancer Prevention Awareness and Prostate Cancer Screening

(West Trenton, NJ - May 17, 2007) Horizon NJ Health announced today that, in partnership with the American Cancer Society and the Trenton Crusade Against Cancer, the company will be presenting the Third Annual "Trenton's Real Men Cook" event on Sunday, May 20, 2007 at the Trenton War Memorial. Some of the city's most distinguished leaders will serve as judges and forty men have volunteered to don aprons and chef hats to serve up healthy, nutritious dishes. The cook off will run from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. and is designed to create awareness about prostate cancer, while emphasizing the importance of screening, especially for those most at risk.

"As a committed partner in the community, we are honored to continue our participation and support of an event that is directed at easing some of the health disparities for the residents of Trenton and Mercer County," commented Philip M. Bonaparte, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Horizon NJ Health. "When we look at the research, we find that cancer rates for African American men are 60% higher than white men and death rates are nearly two-and-a-half times higher. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in Black men."

Marion K. Ray, involved with Chairpersons for Trenton's Real Men Cook and a part of the Trenton's Crusade Against Cancer noted, "Our event is a wonderful chance for families to get together on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy great food, to be entertained and to learn about how they can prevent and screen for cancer. We are fortunate to have The Music Project: Miller Homes Smooth Steppers Drill Team and the Sisters of Praise performing and the City of Trenton Health Van will be on site for various health screenings."

Invited cooking contest judges include: Douglas H. Palmer, Mayor of the City of Trenton; Dr. George A. Pruitt, President of Thomas Edison College; Brian M. Hughes, Mercer County Executive; Bill Rovner, Communications Director, Children's Futures; Kevin C. Larkin. Mercer County Sheriff; Zachary A. Chester, President of NAACP Trenton; Linda Johnson, Capital Health Brava/NJ CEED Coordinator and Johnny Morris, CEO, WIMG Broadcasting.

Horizon NJ Health is New Jersey's largest managed healthcare organization serving the publicly insured, providing health services for more than 323,000 people in all 21 New Jersey counties. Headquartered in West Trenton, NJ, Horizon NJ Health, a New Jersey partnership, is an affiliate of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ). Horizon NJ Health's Web site is located at www.horizonNJhealth.com.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (Horizon BCBSNJ) with headquarters in Newark, NJ is New Jersey's largest health insurer, providing coverage to more than 3.3 million people. Horizon BCBSNJ's Web site is located at www.HorizonBlue.com. Horizon BCBSNJ is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Facts every African American should know about Cancer and Prostate Cancer General Information:

• The United States has made strides recently in improving the outlook for people with cancer. Deaths from the disease have dropped for two years in a row
• But a new American Cancer Society report shows that progress has been slower among African Americans than people of other races in this country
• Death rates from cancer have been declining among both African American men and women, according to Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans 2007-2008
• Yet, the cancer death rate is still 35% higher for African American men compared to white men and 18% higher in African American women compared to white women
• African Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival rate of any other racial or ethnic group for most cancers

• Among African American men, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death
• The death rate for this disease is more then twice as high among African Americans as whites. The incidence rate is also higher
• Death rates have been declining in African American men, but not as quickly as they have dropped in white men
• Screening rates are also lower compared to whites
• About 30,870 new cases of prostate cancer and 4,240 prostate cancer deaths are expected to occur among African American men in 2007

Contact: Horizon NJ Health
Carol Chernack, 609-538-0700 x5290
carol_chernack@horizonNJhealth.com