Men’s Health Awareness Expo set

HARLINGEN — Encourage your sweeties to get tested.

June is men’s health awareness month and local agencies are coming together to provide free screenings and promote men’s health.

Cameron County Public Health and Texas Oncology Harlingen will be teaming with Bass Pro Shops to host the 2nd Annual Blue Tie Men’s Health Awareness Expo and 5K.

Families are encouraged to attend and support health awareness for the men in their lives.

The family-friendly event will feature a bike rodeo for children along with free health screenings for all.

Veronica Ramirez from the Cameron County Public Health department said men have been known to avoid keeping up with their health.

“At a young age, men should be getting regular exams for testicular cancer,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez said the campaign, “Wear One for Your Sweetie,” encourages women and family members to wear blue ties during the event and the month of June.

“It’s a unifying message around all ages about keeping the men in our lives healthy,” Ramirez said. “We really don’t hear about men’s health.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of men’s death is due to heart disease.

“Men do not go to the doctor or get their screenings,” Ramirez said.

Frontera de Salud, an organization dedicated to providing health services to underserved communities, will be on-site to provide free prostate screenings through a blood draw and will be available to check blood pressure and glucose levels.

Results from all screenings will be mailed to individual’s homes to provide a general overview of their health.

Residents can sign up for the 5K run online and register to receive a T-shirt and medal at the end of the race.

All proceeds from the race will go toward the Texas Oncology Foundation that benefits families in Cameron County.