“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
— Ferris Bueller
🚨 Generation X is dying younger and faster than Baby Boomers ever did, and no one is sounding the alarm.
Ferris Bueller skipped school to seize the day. This year, Generation X is skipping work to save our lives.Â
Let’s face it: we’ve lost too many friends already. Too many classmates. Too many siblings, coworkers, and people we love. Midlife shouldn’t be a death sentence, but for too many Gen Xers, that’s what it’s become. 8.8 million Gen Xers are already gone. Most didn’t live to see old age.
September 24, 2025 is the 40th anniversary of the Cubs game Ferris Bueller skipped school to see. We’re inviting you to take one small, defiant step toward staying alive. Ditch death on September 24, and get a critical health screening. Read ahead to learn more. Â
📅 Ditch Death. Schedule Your Screening on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Pick one of eight screenings. Book it. Show up. Whether you’re 44 or 64, there’s a critical health screening you’re likely overdue for. These are not “nice to haves.” They’re lifesaving. September 24 is the perfect excuse to finally take care of it.
đź©ş Pick Your Screening
1. Colonoscopy or Stool Test (Colon Cancer Screening)
- Who needs it: Adults 45+
- Why: Colon cancer is one of the most preventable deadly cancers when caught early.
- What to do: Schedule a colonoscopy or ask your doctor about at-home stool tests like Cologuard.
2. Lung Cancer Screening
- Who needs it: Adults 50–80 with a 20-pack-year smoking history, even if you quit.
- Why: Lung cancer is often symptomless until it’s advanced. A low-dose CT scan can detect it early.
- What to do: Ask your doctor about low-dose CT screening if you’ve ever been a heavy smoker.
3. HIV Screening
- Who needs it: Anyone who hasn’t been tested or hasn’t been tested in a long time.
- Why: Many people with HIV don’t know they have it. Early detection saves lives and reduces spread.
- What to do: Ask for a rapid test at your clinic or find a free site here.
4. Depression / Mental Health Screening
- Who needs it: Anyone struggling with burnout, despair, numbness, or disconnection.
- Why: Mental health is health. Untreated depression is a major driver of Gen X mortality.
- What to do: Talk to your doctor or start with mentalhealth.gov/get-help.
5. Hepatitis C Test
- Who needs it: Adults born between 1961 and 1981, especially if you had a blood transfusion before 1992.
- Why: Hep C can go undetected for decades and cause fatal liver disease.
- What to do: Ask for a Hep C antibody test. It’s just a simple blood draw.
6. Mammogram or Pap Smear
- Who needs it: Mammogram: Women 40+ (annually)
- Pap/HPV test: Women 21–65 (every 3–5 years)
- Why: Early detection of breast and cervical cancer saves lives.
- What to do: Call your OB-GYN or local women’s health clinic.
7. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Screening
- Who needs it: Adults 40+ with a history of smoking, long-term exposure to air pollution or workplace dust/chemicals, or chronic cough and shortness of breath.
8. Cardiovascular Risk Screening
- Who needs it: All adults 40+, especially those with a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
- Why: Heart disease is still the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women. It often goes undetected until it’s too late. Stroke risk increases with unmanaged blood pressure and cholesterol.
- What to do: Ask your doctor for a cardiovascular risk check that includes blood pressure, a cholesterol panel, and blood sugar (glucose or A1C). One simple blood draw and a cuff reading could save your life.
đź“Ť How to Find Screening Resources
You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t need a specialist to get started. Most of these screenings can be scheduled through your primary care provider or a local clinic. Here’s where to begin:
🏥 Primary Care Provider (PCP)
- Your PCP can coordinate almost all of these screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, depression, HIV, and Hepatitis C tests.
- They can also refer you for a colonoscopy, lung scan, mammogram, Pap test, COPD screening, or a coronary calcium scan if you’re at risk for heart disease.
đź’™ Low-Cost and No-Insurance Options
Don’t let lack of insurance stop you. These resources provide affordable or free screenings:Â
- Â Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): Sliding scale or free services in every state. Visit findahealthcenter.hrsa.govÂ
- Many Catholic hospitals and clinics offer community health programs, mobile screenings, and financial assistance. Try searching “Catholic hospital near me” + “free screenings” or visit: https://www.chausa.org
- HIV and Hep C Testing: locator.hiv.gov for free, fast, anonymous sites near you.
- Mental Health Support: Visit mentalhealth.gov/get-help to start talking to someone today.
🔎 Tips for Finding Specialty Screenings
- Colonoscopies: Many GI clinics now offer direct access colonoscopies without requiring a prior visit. Just call and ask.
- Lung cancer (LDCT scans) and COPD (spirometry): Ask your doctor or search for local pulmonary clinics or hospitals with respiratory care programs.
- Heart disease screening: Look for clinics or hospital systems that offer “Heart Health” or “Know Your Numbers” packages. These usually include blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and sometimes a calcium scan.
- Stroke risk: Your doctor can assess stroke risk through the same screening tools, especially if you have high blood pressure or a family history.
Uninsured / UnderInsured
- Â If you’re uninsured or underinsured, look up your local state health department. Many offer free or low-cost screenings through early detection programs.
Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. — Ferris Bueller
Remember, you’re not skipping work or responsibilities. You’re saving your life. So, please take the day off. Make the call. Get a screening. Ditch death. Afterward, I hope you find something beautiful to look at like “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” by Georges Seurat, the painting that stopped time for Cameron in Ferri Bueller’s Day Off.Â
đź“Ť Take the Day Off. Here’s How.
Gen X Screening Day is happening across several platforms. Here’s how you can get involved:
🟦 Facebook Event
Mark yourself “Going” or “Interested” and invite your Gen X friends. We’ll post reminders, resources, and screening guides all the way to September 24.
đź”— Check out the Facebook “Event”
âś… LinkedIn Event + Article
LinkedIn Event + Article
For those of us living in spreadsheets and Slack channels, the message is the same: take the day off for your health. Find the event, join the conversation, and share the campaign with coworkers and HR teams.
đź”— Click here to view this event on LinkedIn.
📆 Google Calendar Shared Event
Add the official event to your personal calendar so you don’t lose track. The reminder might be the nudge you need.
đź”— Click here to add Gen X Screening to your calendar.
🎟️ Eventbrite Sign-Up (Free)
Prefer a calendar reminder and a commitment you won’t forget? Register on Eventbrite — no cost, no pressure, just a quiet promise to take care of yourself.
đź”— RSVP for Gen X Screening Day on EventBrite.
📲 Instagram Countdown + Stories
Follow along for visual reminders, countdowns, and shareable graphics. Add the countdown to your own Story to help spread the word.
đź”— Ditch.Death on Instagram
🎥 Ferris Bueller’s Cubs Game: What Really Happened in 1985
Although the movie appears to capture Ferris and friends at a June 5, 1985 Chicago Cubs game against the Atlanta Braves (complete with a foul ball caught in the stands), that footage is archival from the actual game played on that date.
However, the scenes featuring Matthew Broderick and friends in the bleachers were filmed months later, on September 24, 1985, during a Cubs game against the Montreal Expos.
So both dates are correct, but in different ways:
June 5, 1985: The actual game depicted in the film’s baseball footage (Braves vs. Cubs).
September 24, 1985: When the actors sat in Wrigley Field and the crowd scenes were filmed.
And, also, if anyone wants to argue about it, I am 100 percent positive Generation X deserves two days off.
Disclosure: This post is for informational and advocacy purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for professional healthcare consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak with a licensed healthcare provider about any medical concerns or screening decisions. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, data and recommendations may evolve over time. This campaign is independently created and is not affiliated with any official health organization or the rights holders of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Click here to review the full disclosure and disclaimer for The Jennifer Chronicles.Â