DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital President and CEO Reginald Eadie, M.D., launched a month-long campaign this November to educate the public about the dangers of soda pop and called upon the public to pledge to ditch the drink for their own health.

“The evidence is overwhelming that soda pop causes significant harm to our bodies,” Eadie said. “Just as how cigarettes are linked to cancer, soda pop can lead to weight-control issues and obesity, which is a main contributor to the three leading causes of death in this country: heart disease, stroke and cancer.”

Sinai-Grace hosted a campaign kick-off pep rally on October 31 in the hospital auditorium. The festivities included a health conversation with Dr. Eadie; inspiring testimony from Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh; and reflections from state Rep. Thomas Stallworth III, D-Detroit; Director of Wayne County Health-Human Service Edith Killins; Wayne County Commissioner Irma Clark-Coleman, D-Detroit; Detroit City Councilman André Spivey, and students from Dr. Benjamin Carson High School of Science & Medicine and Cornerstone Health High School.

Also partnering with Sinai-Grace for the campaign are Detroit Public Schools, Whole Foods Market, DMC Detroit Receiving Hospital, Elder Law of Michigan, the Rev. Horace Sheffield, The Water Station, Spike Life Communities and the Metro Detroit National Black Child Development Institute.

For more information about this campaign and other health issues, visit Dr. Eadie's blog at Say No to Soda Pop.