Churches Participate in Diabetes, Weight Events; Washington State Groups Receive Grants To Support Breast Cancer Programs for Minority Women

• Diabetes Sunday: Faith Access to Community Economic Development on Feb. 17 sponsored the 11th annual Diabetes Sunday at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Mich. The event featured no-cost blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and glaucoma tests, and a panel of health experts to answer questions from attendees (Blondin, Flint Journal, 2/17).
  
  
• Integris Health: About 15 Oklahoma City churches are participating in Integris Health's weight-loss challenge for predominantly black congregations. Zora Brown, director of cultural affairs for Integris, said she created the challenge to encourage church members to tackle obesity as a way to target health disparities in the black community. Each team will be weighed at the first of the month, and the congregation with the largest percentage of weight loss wins the contest (Hinton, Oklahoman, 2/17).
  
  
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure: The group's Puget Sound Affiliate has announced more than $1.8 million in grants to 19 western Washington state breast cancer programs, including three that focus on minority women. International Community Health Services, Samoan National Nurses Association and Franciscan Health System each received grants to support their work among Asian, Pacific Islander and other minority women (Northwest Asian Weekly, 2/16).