My family and I are participating in the Raleigh ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk event for our third straight year, in honor of my dad. Like many families, our lives have been changed by prostate cancer, the most common cancer diagnosed in men.

My dad, my hero, was diagnosed with a very aggressive stage of Prostate Cancer in late 2019 and he remains on a lifetime of very expensive medication that he must take daily in an effort to keep the cancer from continuing to spread. The emotional strain on me and my family has been challenging, to say the least, but nothing compared the physical and emotional strain my dad lives with daily.

THE FACTS: 1 in 8 men (1 in 6 Black/African American men) will get prostate cancer during his lifetime. Prostate cancer is the second leading cancer killer for men. A man dies from prostate cancer every 15 minutes. That’s unacceptable and I need your help to do something about it.

My mission is to raise money to help patients in need and to one day find a cure for cancer, but it is also about bringing awareness to the many families that one day might have to fight this battle on a personal level. Whether you donate or not, please encourage the men in your life (YOU, fathers, sons, brothers, husband, significant others, etc.) to keep regular checkups with their healthcare providers. Don't miss that one annual physical like my dad did because that’s all it took for the cancer to form and metastasize throughout his body. Early detection has a very high survival rate.

I'm committed to raising awareness and funds to end this disease, by declaring one number above others: ZERO. Zero prostate cancer cases and zero pain and suffering from the disease. I'd be so grateful for your support to help save lives and keep families together.

You can help me end prostate cancer in two ways:

Join me at the Zero Prostate Cancer Run/Walk event Saturday, October 19, 2024.

Help me raise funds for research and patient resources by making a donation to my fundraising page.

We will make a difference in the fight against prostate cancer. Together, we will end it!

Love and gratitude,Vanessa