St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund Highlights Wellness Programs as Great American Smokeout and Diabetes Awareness Month Draw Attention to Health Issues in the Trucking Industry
St. Christopher Fund recently joined the Healthy People 2030 Champion Program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – November 21, 2024 – The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) is proud to highlight ongoing wellness programs critical to addressing health issues in the trucking industry – Rigs without Cigs (RwC) and The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) – as the month of November raises awareness for both of these issues via the American Cancer Society’s annual Great American Smokeout and National Diabetes Awareness Month.
Earlier this year, the St. Christopher Fund also became a Healthy People 2030 Champion recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP). As a Healthy People 2030 Champion, the St. Christopher Fund has demonstrated a commitment to helping achieve the Healthy People 2030 vision of society in which all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being across the lifespan.
“It is such an honor to be recognized as a Healthy People 2030 Champion. We are passionate about helping OTR drivers overcome the challenges of living on the go and learning ways to prioritize their health through our programs,” said Lindsey Bryan, Health & Wellness Manager of the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund. “
Over the last 16 years, the St. Christopher Fund (SCF) has developed a wide assortment of health and wellness programs under the Driven to be Healthy umbrella. The SCF’s Driven to be Healthy program includes 5 key health and wellness programs including tobacco cessation (Rigs without Cigs), chronic disease management (Healthy Habits for the Long-Haul), Diabetes Prevention, at-home cancer screenings (Get Preventative Screenings-GPS), and Vaccine Vouchers. All of the Driven to be Healthy programs are free to Class A over-the-road (OTR) semi-truck drivers thanks to sponsors like OOIDA, Southern Recipe, RoadPro, Call on Doc, Habitrol, and Grinds Coffee Pouches.
The Rigs without Cigs program offers four methods of quitting, along with tips and tools to aid in becoming tobacco free. The SCF is frequently asked what makes RwC different than other programs. While RwC does offer different options to assist in becoming tobacco free, it also offers weekly accountability and support, both of which are vital to cessation success. Participants chose an accountability partner, and get a weekly call, email, or text asking for an update from the program’s coordinator, a certified tobacco cessation specialist. Participants also get a lot of support from fellow drivers through the Rigs Without Cigs Facebook Group.
The SCF’s Diabetes Prevention Program is a virtual 12-week interactive course that focuses on building healthy habits to help reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Topics include nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep, and more. A lifestyle coach specially trained and approved by the CDC’s diabetes prevention program leads the courses. This program group contains similar people with similar goals and challenges, making it a great place for support, encouragement, and tips specifically for truck drivers. Class A OTR drivers that enroll are eligible to receive tools to help with tracking and success (e.g., scale, blood pressure cuff, activity tracker, and resistance bands). Drivers can join at any time throughout the course, though new courses will start quarterly.
SCF is the only non-profit in the industry tangibly supporting drivers when they are out of work because of injury or illness. SCF also has proven success with their FREE Health and Wellness programs including tobacco cessation, diabetes prevention, chronic disease management, flu, Covid, pneumonia, and shingles vaccine vouchers, and at-home prostate and colon cancer screenings.
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund was founded in 2008 by Dr. John McElligott (“Dr. John”), radio host Dave Nemo of the Dave Nemo Show (XM Radio Channel 146) and his business partner Michael Burns. It all started when Dr. John felt compelled to take action after witnessing hundreds of truck drivers and their families struggle to survive as a result of catastrophic illness or injury. Dr. John found willing partners in Dave and Michael and together they launched the truck driver charity to come to the aid of professional drivers in need.
To date, the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) has provided over $4.9 million for rent, mortgage, insurance, and vehicle payments on behalf of more than 4,000 professional Class A over-the-road semitruck drivers.
About SCF: www.truckersfund.org
The St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF) helps Class A over-the-road semi-truck drivers and their families who are out of work due to a recent illness or injury. Assistance may be in the form of direct payment to providers for household living expenses such as, rent/mortgage, utilities, vehicle payments, and insurance. The SCF also provides free health and wellness programs including diabetes prevention, smoking cessation, chronic disease management, flu, Covid, pneumonia, and vaccine vouchers, and prostate and colon cancer screenings. For more information, visit TruckersFund.org.
Media inquiries: media@truckersfund.org
Donation/Corporate Match Inquiries: Director of Philanthropy:
Shannon Currier
shannon@truckersfund.org
865.202.9428
Media Contact:
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund
Rob Duda Peppercomm
Senior Vice President, Automotive & Transportation Strategist
rduda@peppercomm.com
908.347.1243