Third Annual Hepatitis C Awareness Event

Hep C Awareand Terri Eden will present the third annual Patrick Eden Hepatitis C Awareness event at Main Street Restaurant in Yorba Linda (4902 Main Street, 714-777-9427). This year’s scheduled musical performers are Debra Davis (4-6pm), Acoustic Conversation (6-8pm), Scott Detwieler (8-9pm), Kelly’s Lot (9-10pm), and Los Angeles Blues Society (10-Midnight). As always, this event promises more than good music and great food and drink, making free Hepatitis C screening and testing available.

The event remembers the third anniversary of the loss of Terri’s husband Patrick Eden to Hepatitis C. At age 54, he lost his life to the disease in March 2006. Terri would like to share how she and her late husband handled living with the disease and the changes in their lives that occurred as a result.

“It’s been two years since the loss of my husband”, says Terri, “and talking with people since his passing has amazed me, in learning how many people know someone with Hepatitis C. Most people don’t seem to be concerned about the person because they don’t understand how serious this disease is and don’t realize that by the time they look sick it may be too late”.

Patrick’s wife Terri joined the HepCAware street team after hearing about their telethon and grass roots awareness. Founder, Kelly Zirbes, helped Terri put her event together and the annual event was created. ”Helping others is a good way to deal with the loss”, Zirbes says. “It’s worked for many folks across the USA”.

Teri wants to help get the message out to people in her area.

She hopes that increased awareness will lead to more intense research on curing the disease. She would also like people to know that it is possible to live with Hepatitis C and to remember that “attitude is everything’. Patrick’s son, Sam, believes that his father is his guardian angel and that it is the strength of will and character of his father that guide him.

There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C. It is a virus that attacks the liver and is spread by blood-to-blood contact. Although 1 in 50 Americans have the disease, 2 out of 3 do not know it. Persons who most at risk include those who have received blood, blood products or an organ transplant prior to 1992; those who have been involved with drug abuse (either injecting or snorting); those who have been patients of dialysis, those who have been tattooed or pierced, shared personal care items, been incarcerated or have been a war veteran (especially Vietnam).

This is a free event that is open to the public. Musical performances by Debra Davis, Acoustic Conversation, Scott Detwieler, Kelly’s Lot and Los Angeles Blues Society Also there will be free Hepatitis testing. For more information call 818.769.2701.