ZEROHOUR Extra NEWSLETTER:
September 2022

Welcome to the Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (PCAM) edition of the ZEROHour Extra Central and Western Regions newsletter. This e-resource is shared quarterly to provide you with useful information on local prostate cancer events, news, and inspiring stories in your community.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (PCAM), the most important month of the year for the empowerment of those in the prostate cancer community. Below, you will find events and information related to your region which might be of interest.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

There are a number of activities you can get involved with during PCAM to spread prostate cancer awareness: join a Run/Walk, attend a support group, register for the ZERO 2023 Summit, start a Grow & Give team, donate to ZERO, reach out to your city/town for a proclamation, participate in a local community health event, or simply tell your friends, family, and loved ones to talk to their doctors about prostate cancer. Whatever you decide to do, please do your part to make an impact and turn September blue this month. Thank you for all that you do to help those affected by prostate cancer.

Run, Don't Walk to a ZERO Run/Walk in Your Area

Highlights of Recent Events
Although the Omaha, NE weather was brutally hot on August 6, that didn't stop more than 200 patients/survivors, loved ones, physicians, and supporters from attending the Omaha Run/Walk. A big thank you to Adult & Pediatric Urology & Urogynecology for hosting the event that raised nearly $70,000. It was also wonderful to welcome longtime supporter, Nebraska Cancer Specialists, as this year's local survivor sponsor.

PCAM and Remaining 2022 Run/Walks
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (PCAM) is the biggest month of the year for the ZERO Run/Walk series, with in-person events happening throughout the country. Please register to become a part of these special events. There is no cost to attend and all funds raised will go to help patients and families in need.

Following is a list of upcoming ZERO Run/Walk events during PCAM and for the rest of 2022 in the Central and Western Regions:

Saturday, September 10
Houston, TX Run/Walk
Twin Cities, MN Run/Walk

Saturday, September 17
Napa Valley, CA Run/Walk
San Diego, CA Run/Walk
St. Louis, MO Run Walk

Sunday, September 18
Chicago, IL SEA Blue Run/Walk
San Antonio, TX Run/Walk

Saturday, September 24
Austin, TX Run/Walk
Bakersfield, CA Run/Walk
Des Moines, IA Run/Walk
Seattle, WA Run/Walk

Sunday, September 25
Coachella Valley, CA Run/Walk
Kansas City, KS Run/Walk

Saturday, October 1
Tyler, TX

Saturday, October 22
Oklahoma, City, OK

Saturday, November 12
Sacramento, CA

It takes a lot of passionate people to make the Run/Walks happen. CLICK HERE for information on how you can volunteer to help at any of the Run/Walk events.

If you cannot make a Run/Walk event in person, or want to participate virtually from any location, download the RunGo App, which you can access in the App Store or Google Play. Register for your local event and choose the "Virtual Participant" option. You can participate any time through the weekend of September 30-October 2. You'll be able to download a Run/Walk playlist through Spotify, hear inspirational updates throughout your run, and see a leaderboard of results.

Practice Partner Shoutout

The Sacramento, CA Run/Walk is coming up on Saturday, November 12, and a huge thanks goes out to host practice partner, Golden State Urology. For over 30 years, the practice has provided quality care and services to patients. They currently have three clinics located in Folsom, Sacramento, and Stockton. A warm welcome goes out to newly appointed Race Directors: Ricky Villena, Practice Administrator, and Diane Southern, Medical Biller. This powerful team will maximize the impact in the fight against prostate cancer in the Greater Sacramento area.

A special shout out goes to midwestern ZERO Run/Walk practice partners: Minnesota Urology, Minneapolis Radiation Oncology, Minnesota Oncology, UroPartners, and Kansas City Urology Care. Thank you to these practices for their hard work in planning for the upcoming Twin Cities, Chicago, and Kansas City events.

Advocacy in Action

With the help of community partners such Associated Urological Specialists, Advanced Urology Associates, and UroPartners, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 5318, which requires private insurers in Illinois to provide all qualifying male policyholders with an annual prostate cancer screening upon the recommendations of a physician. This will result in increased access to prostate cancer screenings without co-pays or other cost-sharing.

Tee-Off Against Prostate Cancer

Take a swing in the fight against prostate cancer. Sign up to be a part of the ZERO Prostate Cancer Tee-Off event series. There's no pressure to have a good golf swing, it's all about everyone having fun. All proceeds benefit prostate cancer patients and families. If you are in the area for either of these events, please plan to join in on the fun, all for a good cause:

October 10
Pros4Care Golf Tournament
Farmers Branch, TX
Register

October 23
Tee-Off Against Prostate Cancer
Scottsdale, AZ
Register

Grow & Give for
Prostate Cancer Awareness

Join Grow & Give with your company to raise critical funds for prostate cancer patients and families, all while having a fun time growing facial hair or rocking a boldly blue style. A huge thank you to longtime Grow & Give partner Baird. Since 2016, Baird's Grow & Give team has been an influential force in spreading awareness and raising crucial funds to support the fight against prostate cancer. They hold the top spot on the All-Time Corporate Teams Leaderboard with nearly $170,000 raised. Baird's passion and commitment to ZERO's Grow & Give campaign and prostate cancer patients and families is inspiring.

Endurance Corner

In October, Claire Rossi will run the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in honor of her father. Last year, Claire's father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and her determination to help families in similar situations is reflected in her fundraising efforts. Over the past months Claire has raised $3,400. Thanks to Claire for her hard work.

Scott Bloomquist, a prostate cancer patient, will bike around the border of the United States in the Spring of 2023. He and his wife Katy will embark on this 12,000 mile journey to raise awareness and educate men on prostate cancer.

Champion Spotlight

A special thanks to Chicago Champions, Team Poindexter. They participated in a mini-Hill day during the month of July to advocate for prostate cancer.

A very Happy Birthday and thank you to ZERO Champion, David Nace, from Kansas City, KS. David has been making quite an impact over the years by creating Facebook fundraisers for ZERO. In August, David raised over $1,265 for patients and their families. Thank you, David.

The Napa Valley, CA Race Directors/Champions are thrilled to be back in person for their Run/Walk on Saturday, September 17. The Daughters 4 Dads team have been involved with the event since its inception and began in memory of Mark Memmott. Thanks to Sarah, Amy, Kindle, and Sara for their work supporting men, families, and the community! Follow the Napa Valley Run/Walk Facebook page.

Mellve Shahid was interviewed for the FOX2 St. Louis morning show, "Keepin' it Local" about the importance of getting screened, and how the Empowerment Network is working with ZERO to help bring awareness to prostate cancer and ultimately end the disease. Mr. Shahid also promoted the St. Louis Run/Walk taking place at Tower Grove Park on September 17. View the article and video interview here.

Welcome new ZERO Champion, Bishop Eddie Wright. Eddie participated in this year's ZERO Summit and the mini-Hill day. Eddie said he was nervous during the Summit since it was his first time as an advocate, but he did a great job. He put together educational events in Dallas and San Antonio, TX and also supported the Swing Fore Hope event. Eddie is a strong addition to the ZERO Champions group.

ZERO recently lost a great Champion with the unfortunate passing of Michael Bachmann. Michael was diagnosed with a very aggressive prostate cancer eight years ago and was a fighter through it all, undergoing numerous treatments, and remaining an inspirational figure to the community. He joined the Joliet, IL Run/Walk series in 2017 with his wife Tracey by his side. Over the years, Team Bach Around the Clock has worked hard to raise funds to bring awareness to this disease, becoming the top fundraiser for the Joliet event two years in a row. He even raised close to $1,500 for the 2023 Joliet Run/Walk. Michael has said, "regardless of if I am walking physically or spiritually, I will be walking with you. No one walks alone." Michael will be greatly missed. Our condolences go out to the Bachmann family.

Livestream Fundraising Opportunities

September is full of livestream events for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The Apex Legends Charity Tournament, supporting ZERO, is on September 24, 10:00 a.m. Eastern. ZERO will also be assisting in a speedrunning event (a playthrough of a video game with the goal of completing it as quickly as possible) for Mega Man alongside fundraiser Kammesennin on Friday, September 30. Tune in to both events on the ZERO Twitch page, or click below to get involved with your own livestream event.

Welcome to New ZERO Staff

Kourtney Brandt joins ZERO as Northern California Chapter Director. Kourtney will be handling the Fall ZERO Run/Walks for Sacramento and Napa Valley, as well as a new 2023 Spring Run/Walk in Reno, NV. Learn more about Kourtney and what is happening in Northern California by visiting the Chapter page.

TEAM SPOTLIGHT Team Fredneck Team Fredneck is thrilled to be participating in their 5th annual ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk in Napa, CA on September 17. Team Fredneck was created in honor of Fred Sanger, the late husband of the team's forever friend and retired colleague, Sue Sanger. Before Fred passed away in 2018 from prostate cancer, he was involved with the Run/Walk in Napa. The team is honored to participate each year in his memory and to raise money to fight this terrible disease. After two years of virtual races, the team is excited to come together in person once again. Thank you to Launch Inc. for sponsoring the team and the Survivor Lounge at this year's event.

Thank YOU for being part of our inspiring community!
Your ZERO Central and Western Regions Chapter Team

Local Chapter News
Find information about what is happening in your local chapter on the chapter web page.

Share Your Feedback
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If you or your organization would like to sponsor the ZEROHour Extra, Central and Western Regions newsletter, please contact your local chapter director.

Join an Event
What prostate cancer support and education events are happening this month? Check the calendar! The Prostate Cancer Calendar web page is a resource for the entire prostate cancer community.