DETROIT—Detroit Tiger star Travis Fryman will receive an award for his participation in the National Spit Tobacco Education Program (NSTEP) at an evening game with the Kansas City Royals on Friday (Aug. 15). NSTEP is a program to educate young people about the health risks, particularly oral cancer risks, of using spit (chewing) tobacco. Currently one million adolescent boys use spit tobacco, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The NSTEP award will be presented by Dr. Thomas Gant, chairman of the board of the Delta Dental Fund; Joan M. McGowan, associate professor of dental hygiene at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and Michigan coordinator of NSTEP; and Richard R. Fetchiet, director of External Relations at the U-M School of Dentistry.

“Fryman is receiving the award for his active participation in NSTEP and for his willingness to be a role model for the youth of Michigan,” McGowan said. While on the field, Fryman will accept the award and do a ceremonial signing of the NSTEP pledge card in the presence of three Little League representatives. The three, all age 12, will be Derek Cranford of Trenton, Mich., and Ben Schmerl and Jim Keyton of Traverse City.

NSTEP also will host a display about the program that will include posters and pledge cards for children to sign in the Tiger Pavilion.

Spit tobacco users have a 50 times greater risk of developing oral cancer than non-users, and each year, an estimated 10 million to 16 million Americans put their health at risk by using spit tobacco.

For more information about the program or about NSTEP, call Prof. McGowan at (313) 763-3373.

More information: 

• Travis Fryman
• School of Dentistry