Celebrities join ‘Celebra La Vida Con Salud’.

Constance Marie, lead actress on ABC’s George Lopez Show and “Napoleon Dynamite” actor Efren Ramirez have teamed up with Celebra La Vida Con Salud, a national Hispanic health education campaign to promote illness prevention and health education among Hispanics in a new series of public service announcements focusing on illnesses that disproportionately impact latinos.

Taped in English and Spanish, the PSA series, entitled “Celebrations” begins airing April 10th in San Diego. It addresses a variety of illnesses that impact Hispanics at higher rates than other populations: heart disease, diabetes, obesity, stroke, HIV/AIDS and cancer. Relating how celebrations play an important role in Hispanic culture, but without good health would be difficult to enjoy, it encourages Hispanics to take preventive measures to improve their health.

“For me and my family, I think the Celebra campaign is so important because I have people in my family who have breast cancer, diabetes, kidney disease and Alzheimer’s and a lot of it could have been prevented if people would just get examinations and eat healthier,” said actress Constance Marie. “So through this campaign, hopefully I can help other people.”

“Celebra” uses a culturally sensitive approach to raise awareness among Hispanics about illness prevention through its on-the-ground health festival tour, radio, television, on-line health education and on-going community outreach efforts.

Celebra is also launching a 12-city health festival tour that offers free medical screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and HIV/AIDs for all participants. Public, private sector and community-based organizations participate in the festivals, which begin April 21st. Other cities in the health festival tour: Phoenix, San Antonio, Atlanta, Denver, Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami and San Francisco.

“We’re thrilled to have such inspirational Hispanic celebrities join the Celebra campaign,” said Carmen Ramos-Watson, Executive Director of Celebra La Vida Con Salud. “Their commitment of time and talent to raise awareness about these important health issues that disproportionately impact latinos will encourage Hispanics to take the necessary steps to live healthier lives.”

As part of a personal message posted to the celebralavida.com website, Efren Ramirez encourages Hispanics to “Take care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually because you only live once. You only have one life, so enjoy it.”