Forrest General Hospital’s Spirit of Women program will host ‘Girls’ Night Out,’ a self-indulging and informational event on Thursday, Oct. 26, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the first floor of the R.C. Cook University Union at The University of Southern Mississippi. Women of all ages are invited to bring their girlfriends, Bunko group, church group, co-workers, neighbors and family – any woman who deserves a break – for a night of fun, food and activities.

This event is not “just another” osteoporosis, breast, and cervical cancer consumer education lecture, but a program designed to bring together women as friends for a girls’ night out with an evening of fun, excitement, education and laughter.

“This unique and interactive educational program is designed to deliver simple but important health messages to women through a fun and entertaining forum,” said Millie Swan, Director of Physician and Public Relations at Forrest General Hospital. “It allows women to indulge, pamper themselves and learn about health all at the same time.”

According to recent statistics, breast and cervical cancer are two of the leading malignancies that occur in women — together affecting an estimated 220,000 Americans this year. The number of women expected to die from both cancers in 2006 is approximately 45,000 (American Cancer Society).

“Cervical cancer is one of the only cancers with a known cause, which means it can be prevented. The cause of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV). It’s a common virus that most women get at one point in their lives, but can be serious for some,” said Pam Rasmussen, Vice President of Communications for Digene, the sponsor of TheHPVTest.com. “Women 30 and over – who are most at risk for cervical cancer – can be proactive in protecting themselves by getting an HPV test along with their Pap.”

Cervical cancer information, free health screenings (including a bone density scan by Hattiesburg Clinic) and creative breast cancer awareness activities will be woven throughout the evening to emphasize the importance of awareness of common health issues affecting women today. Besides these important educational segments, the night will also include a chick-flick, massages, beauty tips, chocolate, food, free night shirts and door prizes. Cost to attend is $10 for Spirit of Women members and $20 for non-members.

Spirit of Women is a national movement – not just a media campaign or a series of events, but a movement led by hospitals across the United States and supported by corporate partners and national media with the mission to move women to take action for better health…mind, body and spirit.

With more than 4,000 members, Forrest General is the exclusive Spirit of Women hospital for South Mississippi.

To register or for more information on Spirit of Women and the programs available, contact FGH OnCall at 1-800-844-4445, and press 1. Deadline for registration is Monday, October 23.

Spirit Girls’ Night Out is brought to you by Forrest General Hospital, a member of the Spirit of Women Hospital Network, with support provided by Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., makers of Poise®, and by TheHPVTest.com.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people — nearly a quarter of the world’s population — trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene, and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex®, Scott®, Huggies®, Pull-Ups®, Kotex®, and Depend®, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company’s 133-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.