NEW YORK, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced its national presenting sponsorship of the American Cancer Society Choose You® movement, which encourages women nationwide to live well today and stay well tomorrow. In support of the Choose You movement and in recognition of National Women's Health Week May 13 – 19 sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health, Quest Diagnostics will offer 10,000 vouchers for free screenings to women at May Choose You events around the country, beginning today in New York City.
"One in three women will get cancer in her lifetime. But a significant number of cancer deaths could be prevented if people maintained a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise, avoided tobacco products and had their regular health checks," said Kimberly Wright, Director, Mission Solutions and Tools, at the American Cancer Society. "We're proud to have Quest Diagnostics as our Choose You national presenting sponsor, and we greatly value their partnership as we work together to empower women to get active, manage their health, and stay well."
An American Cancer Society survey finds that 40 percent of women said they would be more physically active in their free time if it felt less like work and more like play. In response, Choose You is issuing a challenge to women: Choose play in May and help the Society inspire 100,000 acts of physical activity. To get the challenge started, a series of Choose You pop-up "play teams" will be hitting the streets of New York (May 1), Los Angeles (May 11) and Washington, DC (May 22), inviting passers-by to get active with nostalgic childhood toys, including the '80s famed Skip It, hula hoops, hoppity-hop balls and double Dutch jump ropes. Today the Choose You team launched the movement by encouraging women to play midday through late afternoon in New York's Times Square.
"Choose You is an important and growing women's health initiative, and it made great sense in 2012 for Quest Diagnostics to continue and strengthen our support of the women touched by this American Cancer Society movement," said Laure Park, Quest Diagnostics' Corporate Citizenship Officer.