Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi Joins American Lung Association of Michigan to Address Seriously Low Vaccination Rates; Urge Metro-Detroiters to Get Immunized T...( Local 'Faces of Influenza' Karen...),Health

Local 'Faces of Influenza' Karen Newman and LaShell Griffin Asking Everyone, Especially Mothers, to Protect Themselves and Their Families This

and Every Year

Photo Opportunity/Media Advisory

DETROIT, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ --

WHAT: Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic Gold Medalist

Karen Newman, "Voice of the Detroit Red Wings"

LaShell Griffin, Oprah's Pop Star Challenge Winner

Olympic Gold Medal figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi has joined the

American Lung Association of Michigan's Faces of Influenza

campaign to encourage influenza vaccination throughout the winter

months and into the spring to help protect against this serious

virus and boost alarmingly low state immunization rates among

children and adults.

Popular Detroit entertainers Karen Newman, the "Voice of the

Detroit Red Wings," and LaShell Griffin, 2004 winner of Oprah

Winfrey's Pop Star Challenge, are also partnering on the campaign

to encourage increased immunization in Michigan. Karen and

LaShell, both mothers of children with asthma, know firsthand the

importance of vaccination against this dangerous illness, which

causes between 100,000 and 300,000 cases in Wayne County each

year. Additionally, between 500,000 and 2,000,000 residents of

Michigan suffer from influenza in an average year, according to

the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

WHEN: Tuesday, December 11, 2007

10 a.m.-Noon: Kristi, LaShell and Karen will be at the Detroit

Skating Club encouraging participants to get immunized and

signing autographs.

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) will administer