Recent Performances, Community Outreach, and Creative Ideas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2009

Contact:
Jacob Weiss
Director, Catch It Early
jacob@catchitearly.org
Tel: 888.584.4532

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On Saturday, October 10, a team of jugglers will run a 5K race while juggling to raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure and build awareness for breast cancer prevention. Twelve members of Team Catch It Early will perform the feat of juggling while running, also known as "joggling," during the Race for the Cure in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Recent reports show that Tennessee has the third highest cancer death rate in the country, and new approaches will play a key role in improving health outcomes for the local community. Team Catch It Early is using juggling to create awareness for the importance of catching cancer through early detection.

"The juggling gets people to stop and notice, and it draws their attention to this important message," explains Jacob Weiss, director of the Catch It Early initiative. "We get to have fun and make people smile while also educating about essential strategies for cancer prevention."

The combination of juggling and running is a growing sport nationwide, and Jason Tan, co-captain of Team Catch It Early, is leading the joggling movement in Nashville. He is documenting his progress on his blog, The Nashville Joggler. "We are excited for this opportunity to raise support for breast cancer awareness and research," said Tan. "We also hope to bring increased exposure of the sport of joggling to Nashville and Middle Tennessee."

Catch It Early was launched in Spring of 2009 as a collaboration between the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Playing By Air Productions, a Nashville-based entertainment company led by Weiss. Playing By Air frequently performs for cancer survivorship celebrations and teaches juggling workshops for cancer support groups.

Catch It Early also offers a web site featuring humorous videos and health information. As part of breast cancer awareness month this October, the team is launching a new online video featuring female jugglers from across the country. The new video will be available at www.catchitearly.org along with the current juggling video promoting testicular cancer self-exams.

Weiss hopes that other jugglers and cancer centers around the country will join in this effort to spread the word about catching cancer early. Information on how to get involved or volunteer is available on the Catch It Early web site.

About Catch It Early
Catch It Early uses juggling and circus arts to entertain and educate the community about cancer and early detection. Catch It Early seeks to create dialogue and promote cancer awareness, prevention, and support through a creative multimedia campaign. Activities include online videos, cancer education, juggling in public spaces, performing at sporting events, and juggling workshops for cancer support groups. For more information, please visit www.catchitearly.org.

About Playing By Air Productions
Playing By Air Productions is a performing arts and entertainment company based in Nashville, Tennessee. Playing By Air performs juggling and variety arts, builds community through workshops and outreach, and uses juggling to produce engaging messages for causes and organizations. For more information about Playing By Air, please visit www.playingbyaircares.com.

About Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
A part of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Vanderbilt-Ingram is committed to the elimination of cancer through high-impact translational research, innovative and high-quality cancer care, and evidence-based education, prevention and outreach. For more information, visit www.vicc.org

The Nashville Komen Race for the Cure 5k is October 10, 2009. Team Catch It Early is looking for jogglers, jugglers, runners, and walkers from all over to join us as we support The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in raising money and awareness for breast cancer.

About Catch It Early:
Catch It Early uses juggling and circus arts to entertain and educate the community about cancer and self-exams. Catch It Early is an initiative of Playing By Air Productions under the direction of Jacob Weiss, PhD, with cancer education provided by the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Launched in April 2009 for Testicular Cancer Awareness and Young Adult Cancer Awareness, Catch It Early seeks to create dialogue and promote cancer awareness, prevention, and support through a creative multimedia campaign. Activities include online videos, cancer education, juggling in public spaces, performing at sporting events, and juggling workshops for cancer support groups.

Playing By Air was honored to be selected as one of the performances in the opening show of the International Jugglers Association 2009 festival. Playing By Air performed Blocks and Robbers, a duo cigar box act, to an international audience of professional entertainers, athletes, and hobbyists. The show was well received and said to be one of the best welcome shows in recent history.

Nashville, Tenn - Don't miss the final performance of Shakespeare in the Park on Sunday, September 13, 2009: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged). Playing By Air once again will perform a highly-entertaining opening act, filled with audience favorites and brand new material.

Schedule for September 13:
Playing By Air at 6:30
The Complete Works of WIlliam Shakespeare (abridged) at 7:30