ZERO - The End Of Prostate Cancer Announces New CEO

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer has appointed Jamie Bearse as its new President and CEO. Bearse is an 11-year veteran of the organization who has held many roles and responsibilities within ZERO including Chief Operating Officer and most recently Chief Strategic Officer.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130129/DC50244LOGO)

"The Board welcomes Jamie to his new role as CEO," said Jonathan Schwartz, Chairman of the Board of Directors at ZERO. "We are confident in his strong leadership skills and are eager to work together to achieve our mission of ending prostate cancer."

Bearse developed the DASH FOR DAD race series for ZERO and later merged it with the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge in 2009. Today called the ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge, the race takes place in more than three-dozen cities across the U.S. and will generate more than $2.5M this year toward education and increasing prostate cancer research funding.

"We have accomplished a great amount to save lives, but there is great need for new treatments and new hope," said Bearse. "Somewhere in America today, a young researcher has an idea that will one day lead to the end of prostate cancer. It is our responsibility to make that hope a reality." (Read Bearse's full statement here: (http://zerocancer.org/news/releases/jamie_statement/).

Bearse's accomplishments at ZERO include developing multiple successful fundraising programs, securing two separate $1M donations for the organization and recruiting the two most recent chairmen of the Board of Directors.

An avid runner, Bearse also founded the ZERO Prostate Cancer Endurance program in 2008 by competing in the Marine Corps Marathon. Today, more than 100 athletes compete in these endurance teams around the country, raising more than $250,000.

Bearse started at ZERO (then called the National Prostate Cancer Coalition) as the organization's press secretary where he won seven League of American Communication Professional awards, including the best non-profit publicity campaign in 2005 – winning the award after recruiting former New York City Mayor and prostate cancer survivor Rudy Giuliani to serve as a volunteer spokesman.

His achievements in development and communication have propelled the organization to national recognition and have helped educate countless men and families about prostate cancer.

"There is no one better than Jamie to take the reigns of the organization and continue to push forward," said outgoing CEO Skip Lockwood, who is stepping down after leading the organization for five years. "His dedication to the cause and hardworking attitude will bring us ever closer to our goal of ending prostate cancer."

Previous to working at ZERO, Bearse served as U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch's press secretary on his successful first election run for Congress and then on Capitol Hill. He also worked as an editor, reporter and freelance writer for various newspapers in Massachusetts. He studied communications at Johns Hopkins University and holds a Bachelor of Art degree from the University of Massachusetts and an Associate of Art degree from Cape Cod Community College.

Bearse is a Massachusetts native and now resides in Cocoa Beach, FL, with his wife Morgen and their children Sarah, Ethen and Ben.

About ZERO — The End of Prostate Cancer (www.zerocancer.org)
Zero prostate cancer deaths. Zero prostate cancer cases and for those with prostate cancer, it means a zero PSA. Our name conveys what we stand for – all action and zero tolerance for prostate cancer.

As ZERO — The End of Prostate Cancer, we commit ourselves not only to reduce prostate cancer or alleviate the pain from the disease but to end it. We see a future where all men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer will be cured or manage their illness with good quality of life, with the support they need to minimize physical and emotional suffering and to cope effectively throughout their cancer journeys.

To accomplish our goal, we increase research funds from the federal government to find new treatments and we fund local grants to end prostate cancer and educate men and families through our national event series, the ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge.

We're a 501c3 charity, a Better Business Bureau member and 89 cents of every dollar donated goes to programs.

SOURCE ZERO - The End of Prostate Cancer