Largest Men's Health Running Race Series in America Kicks Off

Great Prostate Cancer Challenge / Dash for Dad Races Hosted in 27 Cities

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Making an expansion that creates the largest men's health event series in America, the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge and partnering Dash for Dad races will be hosted in 27 cities across America in 2011.

"We're more than doubling our size from last year as the idea of creating close-knit community events that join together athletes, doctors and their employees, 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 and CEO of Chesapeake Urology Associates in Baltimore, MD, 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."

More than 15,000 runners and walkers are expected to participate in the races dedicated to raising funds for ZERO – The Project to End Prostate Cancer to go toward prostate cancer research, advocacy, early detection and awareness.

"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, companies and volunteers 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. To date more than $1.5 million has been raised through the races with most of it spent locally on prostate cancer programs.

Abbott has signed on as the lead national partner for the third year in a row.

Siegel is also on ZERO's board which also includes current Large Urology Group Practice Association President Raoul Concepcion, lead doctor at Urology Associates in Nashville, TN (which also manages a race) and Hunter Biden, the son of the Vice President.

Complete list of race 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

• Memphis, TN

• Minneapolis, MN

• Nashville, TN

• New York, NY (Long Island)

• Oklahoma City, OK

• Poughkeepsie, NY

• Rochester, NY

• Tucson, AZ

• Washington, DC

For more information about the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge and the Dash for Dad races or to register for one of them, go to www.GreatProstateCancerChallenge.com.

SOURCE ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer