Little Rock – The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation (APCF) wants you to get ready to call the Hogs, ride a hog, eat a little pork and learn all you can about prostates and pigskins as part of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September. Free prostate cancer screenings, fund-raisers and awareness events across Arkansas in September help raise awareness and promote timely detection of prostate cancer. Events include Boys & Their Toys – the signature fund-raising event for the APCF, as well as a cross-country motorcycle ride, a local motorcycle ride and rally, golf tournament, free prostate cancer screenings and education events and Peer Network meetings. Governor Mike Beebe proclaimed September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Screenings and Advocacy
The APCF and other health organizations are providing several free prostate cancer screenings in communities statewide. Go to www.arprostatecancer.org and click on the free screenings link for dates and locations.
The APCF Peer Network for prostate cancer survivors and their families meet monthly in Central, Northwest and Northeast Arkansas locations. For meeting times and locations, call 501-748-1249 or visit www.arprostatecancer.org. For one-on-one communication with a Survivor-Mentor, call 800-338-1383 or the APCF office at 501-748-1249.
Awareness and Fund-raising Events for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
August 31 – Tour de USA 2010, a cross-country motorcycling touring adventure to raise awareness for prostate cancer, is coming to the Arkansas State Capitol on August 31. Founder and prostate cancer survivor Robert Hess and his core team of riders are helping kick off PCA Month in Arkansas and will make their first stop at Landers Harley Davidson, 10210 Interstate 30 at 9:00 a.m. then head over to the Capitol at 2 p.m. for a rally and short ceremony. The team started in Manhattan Beach, California on July 30, and will travel cross-country to Washington, D.C., and return to Manhattan Beach on September 15. Slated as ‘The Longest Motorcycle Charity Tour in the World’, 48 days, 23 states and 7,667 miles, the goal is to save 29,000 lives. A secondary goal is to set a Guinness World Record. For more information call Jeana Vaughan at 501-748-1293.
September 10 – The APCF will hold its Annual Boys and Their Toys Dinner and Auction on Friday, September 10 at the UALR Jack Stephens Center. The football- themed, casual event gives the Foundation the opportunity to honor prostate cancer survivors, increase awareness of the disease and raise money for programs. Dr. Fitz Hill, president of the Arkansas Baptist College, is the 2010 honoree. Tom and Melissa Courtway of Conway are the event co-chairs. Ken Hatfield, Corliss Williamson and other Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame stars are special guests.
September 18 – The 2-Wheel Cruisers of Little Rock is sponsoring a motorcycle ride, rally and cook-out on Saturday, September 18starting at Landers Harley-Davidson Little Rock, located at 10210 Interstate 30, and will end up at that same location after the ride. Registration is $20 and starts at 8:30. To register, visit www.2wheelcruisers.com or pick up registration form at Landers Harley-Davidson.
September 25 – The Highlands Methodist Men and Arnie’s Army are sponsoring a four-man scramble golf tournament Saturday, September 25 at the Kingsdale Complex in Bella Vista. Registration for four-man team is $240, includes cart, fees and lunch. The event benefits the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. For info call Lauren Talbot at 501-748-1249.
(More)
Throughout the month – Flake-Kelley Management is sponsoring a giant blue ribbon light display on the Bank of America building in downtown Little Rock during September to promote prostate cancer awareness. The display is visible from the north, east and south sides of the building.
Recent developments affecting the prostate cancer problem in Arkansas
More Arkansas men will die from prostate cancer this year than Arkansas women will die from breast cancer. Arkansas is ranked 11th for prostate cancer deaths. Although these statistics are staggering, new developments in Arkansas provide hope in the fight against prostate cancer: science now shows the rate of increase in PSA (prostate specific antigen), called PSA Velocity is a better indicator of aggressive prostate cancer than the score itself; a new law requires health insurance carriers to provide at least one prostate cancer screening per year for men 40 and older; APCF continues to increase the number of men screened annually through its free screenings; and prostate cancer deaths have decreased by 28% from 1999 to 2006.
The mission of The Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation is to promote awareness, encourage timely detection and support improved treatment of prostate cancer in Arkansas. For more information about these upcoming events, the APCF or prostate cancer, call the foundation office at 501-748-1249 or visit www.arprostatecancer.org.
