ZEROHOUR Extra - NEWSLETTER:
June 2022

Welcome to the second edition of the ZEROHour Extra - Central and Western Regions newsletter. This e-resource will be shared quarterly to provide you with useful information on local prostate cancer events, news, and inspiring stories in your community.

Special Match Ends Soon: Double Your Impact for Patients in Need

Don’t miss your opportunity to have your gift matched this month to help patients like Ted Healy, an Oregon-based husband, father, and advanced-stage prostate cancer patient. Because of the generosity of people like you, patients in need can get personalized help to secure critical financial and emotional support.

Ted and his wife Mary were facing the heartbreaking decision of affording his treatments or paying their bills. He connected with a ZERO360 case manager who helped him secure financial assistance for his costly yet lifesaving treatment plan. "Having financial assistance to cover my expensive treatments allowed me to focus on what is most important: my health. Through the assistance and support received from my ZERO360 case manager, I learned that I wasn’t alone in my battle against prostate cancer."

At press time, we are nearing our $200,000 goal which, once reached, will trigger a matching fund to double the impact for Ted and many other struggling patients who urgently need your help. Will you be part of giving hope and help to patients today? This double match opportunity will end on June 30 at midnight.

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

We are already deep in the midst of ZERO Run/Walk season, and there is some great activity happening to raise money to support those affected by prostate cancer:

On May 15 in Los Angeles, CA, we kicked off the first ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk of the season. The event raised more than $60,000.

On May 21, the first ever Kearney, NE Run/Walk event was held. Attendees braved the chilly morning to raise more than $57,000. Thank you to our race director, Dr. Garrett Pohlman, and our host partners the Prostate Health Podcast and Kearney Urology Center P.C. for all the hard work that went into making this event so special.

The Joliet, IL Run/Walk on June 11 was a wonderful morning full of smiling faces and warm hugs. Thank you to our race director, Erica Swanberg, and our host partner, Advanced Urology Associates for another great year. Together, the community raised over $60,000.

On June 18, ZERO and Urologic Specialists hosted the inaugural Tulsa Run/Walk. The community came out to River West Festival Park to raise more than $60,000. Thank you to all of our sponsors, including our presenting sponsor Oklahoma Surgical Hospital. We hope to see you again next year!

We greatly appreciate all participants, fundraisers, sponsors, donors, and champions across the country for their efforts to help make these Run/Walk events to be successful, and to raise funds to help those affected by prostate cancer.

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 ZERO's Virtual Prostate Cancer Run/Walk on the Charge Running App, which you can access in the App Store or Google Play. Register for your local event and choose the "Virtual Participant" option. There are four dates/times to choose from: September 30 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time; October 1 at 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time; and October 2 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

Other Events Making A Difference

Here are a few other community events that helped raise awareness and funds to support those living with prostate cancer:

On June 6, the Fifth Annual ZERO Tee-Off Des Moines event was held at Legacy Golf Club in Norwalk, IA. More than 120 golfers came together for a fun day out on the greens to raise awareness. A big shout-out to event chairman, survivor, and ZERO champion, Bill Miller, for raising over $40,000 and his dedication to making a real impact in the Des Moines community. Thank you to sponsors Urology Center of Iowa, Broadlawn Medical Center, and Kia Des Moines for their continued support year after year!

On June 16, ZERO and Mary Crowley Cancer Research hosted the Swing Fore Hope event at the TopGolf in Allen, TX. The event raised over $30,000. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Texas Oncology.

ZERO Champion and Kansas City Run/Walk fundraiser, Vivian Avery partnered with local business Chicken n’ Pickle to host a “Green Cup Campaign” fundraiser, donating $1 for every souvenir cup purchased. Thank you to Vivian for organizing such a great event!

Team ZERO: Making Miles Count

A huge round of thank yous go out to our Team ZERO endurance athletes who run the long haul to help others. Nadia Wallace (left photo) of Anaheim, CA ran the NYC Marathon in memory of her father who passed away in 2017. Claire Rossi (center photo) will be running the Chicago Marathon in honor of her dad who was recently diagnosed in 2021. Kevin Finlay of Kirkwood, MO has raised over $8,500 for the Ironman Rock n’ Roll event in San Diego, CA. Kevin ran in honor of Fr. Jack (right photo). Thank you all for everything you do!

Grow and Give

ZERO’s hairiest fundraising campaign, Grow and Give, is a few months away, but Champions Ryan and Anna Pessah keep the fun going year round with their Hops and Handlebars initiative. This series of events include special beer releases, merchandise sales, and, most importantly, raising prostate cancer awareness. Contact beards@zerocancer.org to learn how to start a fundraiser in your hometown.

In Memoriam

Four of ZERO’s Champions, top fundraisers, and advocates were taken from us much too soon over the past few months. We would like to honor them for their work in raising awareness in their local communities, their fight to lobby congress at the national level, and for fundraising at their local Run/Walk events. Duane Holmes of Nebraska (left photo), Tom Blackney of California (left center photo), Bryan Curry of Washington (right center photo) and Jim Wilhelmsen of Arizona (right photo), you will be missed, but you will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends, and loved ones of these cherished individuals.

Creative Fundraising

At Adult & Pediatric Urology, our Omaha Race Director, Megan Lihs, and the local committee got creative to raise awareness and funds for the Omaha Run/Walk event on August 6. Different departments created beautiful gift baskets to raffle and raise money to go towards their APU team fundraising goal.

Champion Spotlight

Welcome to new Champion Mark Martinez of Phoenix, AZ. Mark believes that it is his mission to be an advocate, educator, and to provide positive energy to bring hope to those battling prostate cancer. He is dedicated to speaking to as many families as possible to provide compassion, knowledge, and awareness to cover diagnosis, recovery, and beyond. He will also be joining a group of other Phoenix area Champions for the first annual Tee-Off in Scottsdale later this year. » Find a Tee-Off event.

Champion Amanda Tribuzio is a Business Operations Specialist and the Race Director for the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk SEA Blue event. Amanda has already raised $60,000 in sponsorships for the September 18 event. Prostate cancer is a part of Amanda’s professional life, but has also impacted her personal life. When asked why she is passionate about the fight against prostate cancer, she states, "Because men need to know that their issues are just as important as they are, men need the extra encouragement to get help, to talk about what’s going on, and to not shy away from their health just because the world isn’t making a spectacle out of it. Because it’s important to me, for my husband, for my father, and for my son." » Sign up for the SEA Blue Run/Walk.

Welcome to New ZERO Staff

Welcome to the ZERO team Kaitlin Myers, Midwest Chapter Manager, who will be handling the Fall ZERO Run/Walks in parts of the Midwest, including Des Moines, Kansas City and St. Louis.

Welcome to Daniella Garza, Texas/Oklahoma Chapter Coordinator. Daniella will be helping the Texas/Oklahoma Chapter Director, Tracy Crites, with eight local events this year. » Meet the ZERO staff.

Thank YOU for being part of our inspiring community!