Men to Get Off the Sidelines and Into the Race In 5K to Raise Money to Fight Prostate Cancer
| LITTLE ROCK — The first Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K Race/Walk will be held at 8 a.m. September 13 in downtown Little Rock, it was announced at a news conference today at the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (ACRC) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
The Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K, being held to help fund education, screening, research and awareness of prostate cancer, a disease that is the second leading cause of cancer death among men, was announced along with a September 12-13 weekend of activities that will include the second annual Cruisin’ for a Cure classic car show. Proceeds from the Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K will go to research, education and screening programs of the Arkansas Cancer Research Center at UAMS and the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. Proceeds from the Cruisin’ for a Cure will benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation. This is the second year for Cruisin’ for a Cure.
John McDonnell, coach of the University of Arkansas Razorback track team, is honorary chair of the Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K. McDonnell, who was preparing to leave Arkansas for France where he will coach the world track team, was unable to be at the news conference but in a videotaped message spoke to men in Arkansas and their loved ones saying, “I’ve won 38 national championships, let’s form the winningest team of all – the team that beats prostate cancer.”
McDonnell explained that national championships are achieved by athletes that not only believe they are good, but believe they HAVE to be good. “Guys out there in Arkansas, we HAVE to be good. Let’s win the fight against prostate cancer.”
“This year 2,600 Arkansas men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 300 will die. That is a statistic we can change,” said Dr. Graham Greene, associate professor of urology in the College of Medicine at UAMS and head of gerintourinary oncology. Greene also serves as director of the medical board of the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, which he helped found in 2000.
“With early diagnosis and treatment a man’s chances of survival with prostate cancer are 90 percent or higher,” Greene said. “That’s why it’s so important that we get the word out… It’s all about information!”
Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman, associate professor in the College of Medicine and surgeon at UAMS and director of cancer control at the ACRC who is serving as co-chair of the Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K, agreed with Dr. Greene. “Information and education are powerful weapons,” she said. “An informed patient who is active in his or her treatment has a better chance of survival. Likewise the everyday man or woman when informed and educated has a better chance of not winding up as a patient.”
The Prostate Cancer Challenge 5K will begin at 8 a.m. on Sept. 13 at Second and Commerce Streets in downtown Little Rock. Entry fees for the race will be $15 per person when the registration form is received by Sept. 1. The entry fee will be $20 for registration forms received after Sept. 1. For more information on the Race/Walk or to obtain a race form, call the Cancer Control Outreach Center at the ACRC at (501) 526-7047 or visit www.uams.edu.
Henry-Tillman and Kimberly Blann, a cancer education specialist at the ACRC, are serving as co-chairs of the Prostate Cancer Challenge, which is presented this year by founding sponsor ACRC. Other sponsors include the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, the Arkansas Cancer Coalition, KARK-TV, Channel 4, the Arkansas Medical Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, KATV-Channel 7, Astra Zeneca, KTHV, Channel 11, Isoplus, Fox 16, UPN 38, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Proceeds from the race will go to support prostate cancer awareness, education, screening and research programs around the state that are coordinated by the ACRC and the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Becky Kossover, director of the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation, speaking at the news conference, thanked the ACRC and others involved in putting on the race for their efforts in “getting the word out and helping save lives.” “Events like the Prostate Challenge and the Crusin’ for a Cure, which raised more than $30,000 in its first year for the Prostate Cancer Foundation,” she said, are “so important as we fight to eradicate this disease.”
Dennis Jungmeyer, a prostate cancer survivor and board member of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, noted that getting the word out to men before and after a diagnosis of prostate cancer is all important. “You can’t imagine the difference the support of others and the knowledge of what resources are available makes in the life of someone just diagnosed with this disease.”
Kossover also announced plans for the second annual Crusin for a Cure, which will be held Sept. 12 and 13. The first annual Cruisin’ for a Cure was held September 21, 2002 and drew 325 vehicles. According to the National Street Rod Association in Memphis, last year’s Arkansas Cruisin’ for a Cure was the largest car show of its kind ever held in the state. In addition, 125 men were screened for prostate cancer during a free screening at the event.
Activities for the 2003 Cruisin’ for a Cure event will include:
• An early bird reception for registered vehicles and sponsors will be held in the River Market Pavilions from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12.
• The vehicle show and free prostate cancer screenings will be held from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the North River Landing in North Little Rock on Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Admission for the public is $5. Vehicle registration is $25 through Sept. 1 and $35 after Sept. 1 and the day of the show.
• Events after the car show will include a parade of cars through downtown Little Rock as well as a burger bash for sponsors and registered vehicles and a ‘50s dance in the River Market pavilion featuring the band Sonny Burgess and the Pacers. Admission for the dance is $12 ($10 with ticket stub from the Car Show).
For more information on Cruisin’ for a Cure or to register a vehicle go to www.cruisinforacure.org or call (501) 603-7429.