[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 12745-12746] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY & IN GRATITUDE OF DENNY MOE'S SUPERSTAR BARBERSHOP SECOND ANNUAL CUTTING FOR A CURE 48 HOUR MARATHON ______ HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL of new york in the house of representatives Thursday, July 1, 2010 Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, today I rise in recognition of an outstanding act of community service by the organization and non- profit, Cutting For A Cure, and its founder, Dennis Mitchell. I am proud of the work being done by extraordinary people in the fight to bring awareness and combat very serious health issues, like HIV/AIDS, which has disproportionately affected Blacks, women and other minority members of the Harlem community and the city at large. At the forefront of that movement is Denny Moe's Barbershop and Cutting for a Cure, a community based organization founded to increase the awareness of preventive health care and the importance of early detection and screening. In hosting the 2nd Annual Cutting for a Cure event, a 48 hour hair- cutting, medical screening and entertainment marathon which commenced on June 25 and ended on June 27, in partnership with National HIV Testing Day to gain exposure for its cause, the organization employed the help of volunteer barbers, entertainers, doctors, nurses and medical technicians to cause a tangible effect in Harlem by raising the awareness of early screening as a means of preventive health maintenance. With a mobile medical van and team of medical personnel on location, the organization offered screening for diseases ranging from diabetes, high blood pressure and hypertension, high cholesterol, breast, prostate and colon cancer, asthma, kidney disease, and of course, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS in its effort to provide people with the means of early detection. Doctors have repeatedly offered evidence that early diagnosis of certain diseases such as cancers of the colon and the prostate give those who are diagnosed early ability to aggressively combat their illness in the hope of eliminating it and continuing their lives free of disease. I would like to formally commend Cutting for a Cure for its work in raising health awareness and promoting early diagnosis of the health issues which unevenly affect minorities in our urban centers. The aim of the organization is to offer free health screening clinics with the support of local and corporate business sponsorship, area hospitals and health care professionals to provide local residents an opportunity to get tested right in their own neighborhoods and on their commercial streets and blocks. With help from sponsors such as the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, St. Luke's Roosevelt, Harlem Hospital Center, Central Harlem Health Revival, Harlem United, Barbershop Quartet, Apple Bank, The New York Times, Crunch Gyms and many others, Cutting for a Cure is effectively addressing an epidemic of preventable disease and death right here in Harlem, throughout my Congressional District and the greater New York City at large. Founder, Mr. Dennis Mitchell, affectionately known as Denny Moe, is the Harlem barbershop owner of Denny Moe's Superstar Barbershop and the catalyst for the creation of Cutting for a Cure. Denny Moe was diagnosed earlier this year with Type II diabetes and has used his detection and influence in the community as a business owner to take action with the end goal of bettering lives. Inspired by the health concerns and issues he heard from his many customers who sat in the chairs of his barber shop and friends and family members who became affected by disease and various cancers, he noticed a pattern of certain diseases affecting his customers more than others and the tragedy of people dying due to being diagnosed too far along into their illnesses. Denny realized that something must be done to stem the tide of African Americans [[Page 12746]] who were losing their lives unnecessarily prematurely due to lack of awareness and inadequate health care. That realization was the seed for the birth of Cutting for a Cure and the work began to offer the community help in the form of education and medical evaluation. Emphasizing the importance of periodic check-ups and healthy living in order to prevent disease is the means used by Denny Moe's Superstar Barbershop to help the people of Harlem and the community around him in his effort to highlight the disparity in the quality of health care offered in urban communities across the nation. Madam Speaker, the efforts of this organization to effect positive change in the lives of other New Yorkers is invaluable and I am honored to commend its work. The organization's motto of ``One ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure'' is an ideal which it promotes heavily while educating the community that disease prevention is the best method of living a healthy life. The citizens of New York City can only benefit from individuals and organizations such as Mr. Dennis ``Denny Moe'' Mitchell and Cutting for a Cure as they enrich the lives of others as they continue to help our community. ____________________