Great Prostate Cancer Challenge Kicks off This Weekend

Premier Men's Health Event Series Coming to 27 Cities in 2011

WASHINGTON, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The largest men's health event series in America kicks off this weekend with road races, golf tournaments, car shows and more planned for 27 cities across the country.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110225/ZEROLOGO)

"We're more than doubling the number of activities from last year as the idea of creating close-knit community events that join together athletes, doctors, prostate cancer patients and the family and friends who care about them is really catching on," Dr. Sanford Siegel, founder of the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge, CEO of Chesapeake Urology Associates in Baltimore, and ZERO Board Member said. "With the involvement of thousands of people, the event series delivers the message that men don't have to die from this disease. It's a fun event that brings everyone in the community together."

The Great Prostate Cancer Challenge raised nearly $1M for prostate cancer early detection, and advocacy for increased federal funding for research last year and more than $400,000 was distributed in grants to various local non-profits and hospitals with the aim of ending prostate cancer.

ZERO chose to begin this year's Great Prostate Cancer Challenge series on Mother's Day weekend in Albuquerque, NM, to honor another ZERO board member Sherry Galloway, who's son, Jeremy Paster, died of prostate cancer at the age of 36 in 2008.

"We need to take care of our men by making sure every one of them gets tested for prostate cancer," Galloway said. "One in 10 men under 40 get prostate cancer and usually it's the most aggressive kind. In honor of my son Jeremy, join our cause and help save lives."

More than 15,000 participants are expected for this year's Great Prostate Cancer Challenge that will include new races in Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit and 10 other locations with a celebrity golf tournament this August in Myrtle Beach featuring sports greats like NFL Hall of Famer Dan Hampton and legendary musicians like Bradford Marsalis.

"As a runner and someone who's lost loved ones to cancer, it's a labor of love to build this event series," Jamie Bearse, ZERO's COO and creator of the Dash for Dad said. "We're proud to partner with urology practices, volunteers and companies like Abbott all around the country in an effort to end prostate cancer."

The Great Prostate Cancer Challenge was founded in 2007 in Baltimore and expanded to four cities in 2008, seven in 2009 and then 13 in 2010.

Complete list of event cities:

• Albuquerque, NM
• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Baltimore, MD
• Birmingham, AL
• Buffalo, NY
• Camden, NJ
• Charlotte, NC
• Central Florida – The Villages, FL
• Cincinnati, OH
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas, TX
• Detroit, MI
• Fort Myers, FL
• Fort Wayne, IN
• Harrisburg, PA
• Indianapolis, IN
• Kansas City, MO
• Knoxville, TN
• Memphis, TN
• Minneapolis, MN
• Myrtle Beach, SC (Golf Tournament)
• Nashville, TN
• Oklahoma City, OK
• Rochester, NY
• Tucson, AZ
• Washington, DC

For more information about the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge and the Dash for Dad events and a full list of event dates and times, go to GreatProstateCancerChallenge.com.

SOURCE ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer