Philadelphia to Host 5K for Prostate Cancer Awareness

ZERO Prostate Cancer is proud to announce the return of its annual celebration of prostate cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and families with its national Run/Walk series. ZERO joins MidLantic Urologyin the upcoming Philadelphia ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk. This race — part of a national event series consisting of fifty events— shows community support by raising funds and awareness for the many patients, caregivers, survivors, and physicians that are active in the fight against prostate cancer. Philadelphia and surrounding area community members will come together on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 8:00 am ET to fight a disease that takes the life of an American man every 15 minutes.

Philadelphia joins communities across the nation as part of the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk series, the nation’s only event series dedicated solely to prostate cancer for more than a decade. The Run/Walk promotes disease awareness, educates men about their risk, and raises critical funding to support patients and families. Most ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk events feature a mission speaker, local eateries and vendors, appearances by local personalities, entertainment, activities just for kids, and more.

"As the largest men's health event series in the world, the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk series shares hope, inspires action, and builds community among patients and the people who love them," said Jamie Bearse, ZERO Prostate Cancer’s CEO. "It's incredibly empowering to see patients and caregivers build extended and cause-driven families through this event series every year. We're thrilled to bring it to 50 cities for the first time ever."

"Rates of advanced prostate cancer are on the rise. It's because of a change in the screening recommendations that happened more than a decade ago, which advised physicians against regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening tests," said Dr. Laurence Belkoff, MidLantic Urology physician and ZERO Philadelphia race chair. "If you are a man between the age of 50 and 70 with average risk, screening should commence with a digital rectal exam and a PSA. Men at higher risk, such as those who have a father or brother with prostate cancer, or are Black, should start screening at age 40. The Philadelphia ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk is a fantastic event for us to engage the community and bring awareness to this important men's health issue."

According to a recent report from the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers among men nationwide, showing a 3% increase in incidence per year and a 5% increase in advanced-stage diagnoses per year since 2014. Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men (aside from skin cancers) and second leading cause of cancer death in men. Black men are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with, and more than twice as likely to die from, prostate cancer than white men.

“We are thrilled to have Philadelphia as one of our fifty communities nationwide that have committed to raising significant funding and awareness, building local prostate cancer communities, and ending prostate cancer,” said Tracy Cesaretti, ZERO’s Vice President of Events. “We look forward to seeing all of our ZERO Champions at our Run/Walks across the country so that together we can raise critical funds and awareness for men and their families.”

Established in 2007, the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk is a growing, nationwide series that attracts patients, survivors, family members, friends, medical professionals, and athletes who come together as a community to save lives and keep families together. ZERO is grateful to longtime Premier Partner AbbVie, National Caregiver Sponsor Bayer, and National Sponsors, including Astellas, Myovant Sciences, Pfizer Oncology, Tolmar, AstraZeneca, Lilly, and Lantheus.

The event will take place at Wilson Farm Park - 500 Lee Road, Wayne PA 19087. For more information or to register for this event, visit zerocancer.run/philadelphia.

About ZERO Prostate Cancer

ZERO Prostate Cancer is the leading national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer and help all who are impacted. ZERO advances research, provides support, and creates solutions to achieve health equity to meet the most critical needs of our community. From early detection to survivorship, ZERO is the premier resource for prostate cancer patients and their families to access comprehensive support, make meaningful connections, and take action to save lives. Our dedicated national and chapter staff is joined with a growing team of passionate volunteer champions to increase advocacy, awareness, and community engagement to ZERO out prostate cancer. ZERO is recognized with four out of four stars by Charity Navigator and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. ZERO spends more on programs than any other prostate cancer charity, dedicating 85 cents of every dollar to support, education, and research.