IRVINE, CA — Students and public health experts have joined forces with cutting-edge artists for the launch of B HERE (www.WillYouBHere.com), a new Asian-focused PR campaign designed to raise awareness about hepatitis B, a life-threatening liver disease that affects up to 2 million people in the United States – many of whom are Asian American.
The PR campaign launch will feature educational and entertainment events such as:
— Multi-media Art Exhibit featuring up-and-coming young artists highlighting different aspects of hepatitis B
— Evening of Live Performances featuring some of the nation’s most entertaining young Asian American music, dance and comedy acts,
including emcee and YouTube sensation KevJumba, comedienne HappySlip and KABA Modern, an award-winning Hip Hop dance act that originated at UC Irvine and rose to fame on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew.
The B HERE events at UC Irvine are designed to raise awareness of hepatitis B and encourage young people to take action against the disease. The campaign is sponsored by Gilead Sciences, a leading maker of medicines for chronic hepatitis B, with support from campus partners Alpha Phi Omega and the Chinese Association of UCI. Hepatitis B is the second-leading cause of human cancer after tobacco. The virus that causes hepatitis B is 100 times more easily transmitted than the AIDS virus. Asian Americans are 20 times more likely to have the disease compared to the overall U.S. population.