It’s closer than you think… The Canadian Liver Foundation- Quebec Chapter (CLF), in partnership with YELP and POP Montreal, will be holding a FREE PARTY on Saturday, July the 28th to celebrate World Hepatitis Day. Come join us at Les Deux Gamins Bistro (170 Prince Arthur St East, Montreal QC H2X3B7) and bring your family and friends! Promotional items and swag provided by World Hepatitis Canada (www.whdcanada.ca) and FAQs will be given out from 1:00 to 6:00 pm to all. Free drinks and refreshments will be served from 3:00pm to 6:00pm to all those who register on www.yelp.ca/events. The event will gather an excellent collection of Montreal's passionate non-profit organizations, such as The Yellow Door, Santropol, Head & Hands, Apathy is Boring, Friends for Mental Health and Team in Training; in collaboration with the best creative, artistic groups like The St-Ambroise Fringe Festival, Bouge d'ici and En Masse. Make art with globe-trotting art stars and enjoy performances by Cirque Acrobats, Bouge D'ici dancers, and music by Krista Muir, Amy Torok (of Action Party and Mongrels). So You Think You Can Dance FlashMob will also be celebrated. Local artists EN MASSE (recently featured at the Montreal Fine Arts Museum) will create live art painting in a silent auction where a percentage of the proceeds will benefit the CLF. The Canadian Liver Foundation’s mandate is to promote liver health and reduce the incidence and impact of liver disease by providing support for research and education into the causes, diagnoses, prevention and treatment of liver disease, and following our mission, we will focus on raising awareness about Hepatitis B + C. One in 12 people worldwide is infected with either hepatitis B or C – 600,000 of them in Canada. Many don't even know it. They may have no obvious symptoms until serious liver damage has occurred. These are chronic, lifelong viral infections that can affect anyone from any walk of life. Regional Director of Canadian Liver Foundation- Quebec Chapter, Betty Esperanza affirms that, “ Most people don`t know that Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV. Hepatitis A and B may be prevented by vaccines, but there is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The earlier hepatitis C is detected the sooner it can be treated and the greater the likelihood of recovery. The most likely outcome without treatment is cirrhosis of the liver, which can be fatal in the absence of a liver transplant. ” Hepatitis is incorrectly stigmatized as an IV drug-users’ disease and/or an alcoholic's disease when in fact it is also a sexually transmitted disease (Hepatitis B is 100% is transmitted through bodily fluids). Did you know that it takes only blood-to-blood transmission to pass Hepatitis C on? Something as simple as sharing personal hygiene items such as razors, toothbrushes or earrings or by using non-sterile equipment for tattoos, body piercing, haircutting, manicures and pedicures; and of course, injection drugs or medical procedures can get anyone infected, anywhere. It is closer than you think… Take a look at http://www.liver.ca/hepatitis/hepatitis-c.aspx to find out more. Hepatitis C is the most common chronic blood-borne virus in North America and the primary reason for liver transplants in Canada. Two thirds of patients on the transplant waiting list will die before a suitable liver becomes available. The disease is almost five times more prevalent than HIV in North America. The focus of the World Hepatitis Day campaign is to raise public awareness. The Canadian Liver Foundation urges every individual to learn about the risk factors involved in hepatitis B and C and the need for testing if they think they might have been infected. Prevention is the first step. To find out more, visit www.liver.ca. Quebec Region. -30- Contact: Betty Esperanza Email: montrealevents@liver.ca Regional Director, Quebec Chapter 1430-1000, rue de la Gauchetière, O Canadian Liver Foundation Montreal, QC H3B 4W5 Tel: (514) 876-4170 Cell: (514) 591-8256