(ALEXANDRIA, Va.)—The Prevent Cancer Foundation awarded the first-place prize of its third annual Screening Saves Lives National Challenge to the Virginia Cancer Network housed at the University of Virginia Cancer Center in Charlottesville, VA, for its community-level “Colon Cancer Free Zone” project.  This four-person group is the winner of a $3,000 grant and a scheduled stop from the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™, a 20-foot long interactive educational exhibit, to enhance local colorectal awareness efforts.

The project will educate rural Eastern Shore worksites about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, good nutrition and physical activity. Through three interactive worksite sessions, the project will promote healthy lifestyle behaviors through group exercise and cooking demonstrations. The participants will be given colorectal cancer educational materials and educated about screening and their employee health benefits. Previously completed Colon Cancer Free Zones have strengthened many corporate wellness programs in Virginia by introducing new wellness activities and incentives such as walking trails, walking competitions, weight loss programs, and group exercise during the day, in addition to promoting cancer screening.

Second-place winner Wyoming Cancer Resources Services aims to increase colorectal cancer awareness and screening by distributing educational materials about lifestyle changes and cancer prevention and early detection. The group will receive a $1,500 grant and will partner with a local surgeon to discuss screening and colon health on the radio and at a food pantry, along with other events. The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe in Hogansburg, NY, won third place for their Community Wellness Day activities focused on health promotion and increasing knowledge about cancer risk factors and screening. They aim to use fun ways to educate the community and ultimately reduce colon cancer mortality on their reservation.

“There were 10 great Challenge groups for this year’s competition, all focused on making a difference in their communities in creative ways. The Foundation is proud to support the valuable colorectal cancer projects of the 2013 Challenge,” said Erica Childs Warner, Director of Evaluation and Outreach. All three winners will receive recognition on the Prevent Cancer blog, the Screening Saves website and in Prevent Cancer’s online and print newsletters.

ScreeningSaves.org also serves as an online community where individuals can share personal stories and experiences, try out interactive tools and learn more about colorectal cancer and screening. The Prevent Cancer Foundation thanks everyone that joined the Screening Saves community, all of this year’s applicants and sponsors Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Genentech.

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About The Prevent Cancer Foundation
Founded in 1985, Prevent Cancer Foundation is one of the nation’s leading health organizations that has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $130 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education and community outreach programs across the country.

For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.

CONTACT:
Lily Echeverría
Spanish Catholic Center
301-252-8202 (Español)

Liona Chan
Prevent Cancer Foundation
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org
703-519-2107 (English)

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)  — The Prevent Cancer Foundation is proud to introduce Campeonas contra el cáncer de seno, (Champions against Breast Cancer), designed to increase breast cancer awareness and screening among Latinas. Campeonas encourage their female friends and family over 40 to get screened for breast cancer.

Designed by a bilingual, bicultural team and pilot-tested in metro Washington D.C., the Campeonas program helps to address health disparities: mammography rates in the U.S. are lower for Hispanic women than for non-Hispanic white women. The program offers training for Latinas to share their own breast cancer screening experiences with friends and family, to encourage them to be screened.

The Campeonas program offers free-standing community-level materials: the novela entitled Un encuentro oportuno: conversando sobre el cáncer de seno (“A Timely Encounter: Talking about Breast Cancer”) uses pictures and conversation between friends to share information about breast cancer screening.  The easy-to-use, step-by-step training guide and free-standing community-level materials are now available to download in Spanish or English for FREE to community health organizations on the Foundation’s website www.campeonas.org.

“We are thrilled with the Campeonas project: it helps put the topic of breast cancer screening into conversation among friends and family,” said Karen J. Peterson, PhD, Vice President of Programs for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “The project really benefited from the combined strengths of a dedicated and very talented team.  And all parts of Campeonas were created with input from women in the community to ensure cultural appropriateness, interest and usability. The Campeonas project allows for comfortable discussion about breast cancer screening.”

Funding for this project was provided by the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the National Capital Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

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About the Foundation
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $130 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach
nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org

SDA focuses on “speedrunning,” or completing video games in the shortest amount of time possible. Grown from a small group playing in an organizer’s basement, this year’s “Awesome Games Done Quick” (AGDQ) had over 110 on-site participants and tens of thousands of viewers at any given time watching the live stream from all corners of the globe. SDA members traveled in from all over the U.S. and internationally (Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Sweden and U.K.) to show their support and participate in the marathon.

“When we came into this year’s marathon we had no expectations at all of how much we would raise—we are still in disbelief of the results of this year’s marathon,” said event organizer Mike Uyama. “We are really happy to be working with the Prevent Cancer Foundation, it’s such a great cause—it’s the only cancer nonprofit that works toward preventing cancer before it’s diagnosed, and they really went out of their way to support us by visiting on-site, helping with food donations, promotion and overall guidance.”

Many of the gamers at the marathon talked about how cancer has touched their lives. One of those amazing stories came from three-time participant and cancer survivor Marc Dziezynski, who recounted, while playing, how he spent his 21st birthday in a hospital undergoing chemotherapy treatment. He and his wife Jessica have participated in all three marathons and Jessica attributes Marc’s love of gaming as having helped him through the difficult cancer treatment.

“The Foundation staff and board continue to be amazed each year by the commitment, time and talents of SDA and the thousands of individuals that donate and share their personal stories of being touched by cancer,” said Jan Bresch, Executive V.P. and C.O.O. of the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “We are extremely thankful to SDA for their tireless work to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!”

For more information on SDA, visit the group’s site: http://marathon.speeddemosarchive.com.

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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation:
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $130 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org

(Alexandria, Va.)–The Prevent Cancer Foundation raised over $110,000 at a successful fourth annual Prevent Cancer 5K walk/run on September 30 in Washington, D.C. Held at Nationals Park for the first time, this year’s event had the most participants and the largest number of teams ever, raising the most money in the history of the event. The proceeds will go toward the Foundation’s research, community outreach, advocacy and education programs.

Top individual fundraiser Allison Hutchins raised $3,025, winning a treadmill desk grand prize, generously donated by exclusive fitness partner LifeSpan Fitness. The top fundraising team was the Cancer Conquers also led by Allison Hutchins, raising $7,640 and winning a catered dinner for 10 by Windows Catering. Ginger Albright of the Cancer Conquerers was the second top individual fundraiser with $2,165, and Grant Allen’s team All in Against Cancer came in second in team fundraising with $7,455.

After completing the 5K walk/run around the stadium, participants were able to hit balls in the Nationals batting cages, hang out in the Nats dugout, meet Washington Kastles mascot Topspin and the Nats racing president Teddy. Many received on-site flu shots from Walgreens and free oral cancer screenings as well.

“I was truly humbled and overwhelmed by the support the entire community bestowed upon us,” said Event Chair Katherine Kennedy. “There are so many people to thank from the team captains rallying more teams and participants than ever before to so many generous sponsors and friends of the Foundation pooling their resources for this spectacular event. Truly a group effort to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!”

“This year’s event was an overwhelming success,” said Jan Bresch, the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “We were able to continue to expand our event this year at a fantastic venue and incorporate many activities in addition to the 5K for participants and their families, making a great day of cancer prevention and fun.”

Many thanks to generous sponsors Bayer HealthCare (Grand Slam), Johnson & Johnson (Home Run), Pricewaterhouse Coopers (Triple), Venable (Triple), Lilly (Double), Millenium Pharmaceuticals (Double), Genentech (RBI), 1-800 CONTACTS (RBI), MarcParc Valet (In-Kind), Subway (In-Kind) and exclusive fitness partner LifeSpan Fitness.

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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation:
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $130 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org

(Alexandria, Va.)–The Prevent Cancer Foundation in partnership with The National Museum for Women in the Arts will be hosting the “Empowering Women on Prevention” panel on Tuesday October 2. The discussion will focus on empowering women and the steps they can take to reduce the risks of cancer. WUSA 9 TV anchor Andrea Roane will moderate and the panel will feature physician, educator and breast cancer survivor Carolyn D. Runowicz, M.D., physician, health and wellness expert Ann Kulze, M.D. and entrepreneur, founder of Athena Water and breast cancer survivor Trish May. With the beginning of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this lively discussion is especially timely as two of the panelists are breast cancer survivors themselves. The reception begins at 5:30 pm with the panel discussion to follow at 6:30 pm.

After the panel discussion, guests are invited to take self guided tours of the special exhibition “Women Who Rock.” This event is sponsored by Athena Water. Seating is still available however space is limited. Please RSVP to Dorothy Abernathy at 703-837-3698 or Dorothy.Abernathy@preventcancer.org.

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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation:
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $130 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.

About the National Museum of Women in the Arts:
The National Museum of Women in the Arts brings recognition to the achievements of women artists of all periods and nationalities by exhibiting, preserving, acquiring and researching art by women and by teaching the public about their accomplishments. For more information, please visit www.nmwa.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 7, 2012

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org

Adam Ritchie
(617) 819-4237
lifespan@aritchbrand.com

(Alexandria, Va.)–The Prevent Cancer Foundation is hosting a 5K “FUNdraising” Walk on September 30 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., and LifeSpan Fitness is supporting the event as the Exclusive Fitness Partner. The 5K FUNdraising walk will be chaired by Ms. Katherine Kennedy, and will raise funds for the Foundation’s national cancer prevention programs, which include early detection research, screening and education.

“We’re working with LifeSpan to let people know exercise can help prevent cancer,” said Jan Bresch, the Foundation’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  “LifeSpan is helping fund the event, and generously contributing products like fitness equipment and accessories to our participants.”

The Prevent Cancer Foundation 5K FUNdraising Walk, now in its 4th year, is open to everyone. In 2011, the Foundation welcomed more than 25 FUNdraising teams and over 350 participants from the Washington metro community, and as far away as California and Quebec.

“LifeSpan’s mission is to help people live healthier, more active and longer lives, which is a charge we share with the Prevent Cancer Foundation,” said LifeSpan Vice President of Sales Bobby Krause. “This 5K is one way our commitment goes beyond our products. The wellness community’s success is our success.”

Families are encouraged to bring their children and pets. The event will include food, entertainment and activities for all ages.

LifeSpan employees will be forming a team of “virtual walkers” and will be using LifeSpan Treadmill Desks on the day of the event to be a part of the FUNdraising festivities. Can’t make to the 5k? Follow LifeSpan’s lead and register as a “virtual walker” to raise vital funds to Stop Cancer Before It Starts! To register, form a team, donate or volunteer for the 2012 Prevent Cancer 5k, visit preventcancer5K.org.

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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation:
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $125 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.

About Lifespan Fitness:
LifeSpan makes fitness gear that fits your lifestyle. Anyone can safely use LifeSpan at home and at work, inside and outside. Combining comfort, quality, design and affordability, LifeSpan uses technology to track your real-world progress against your virtual goals. Consistently winning awards from trusted sources, including Health magazine’s “America’s Healthiest Company,” LifeSpan’s commitment to health goes beyond business, to its work with medical nonprofits and community fitness events. LifeSpan was founded in 2002, and is based in Salt Lake City. For more information, visit lifespanfitness.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 4, 2012

MEDIA CONTACT:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org

(Alexandria, Va.) — The Good Samaritan Hospital of Kearney, Neb. is the 2012 winner of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Screening Saves Lives Challenge. The national competition is an opportunity for organizations to submit their best community-based colorectal cancer screening and awareness initiatives. This small energetic hospital in rural Nebraska will use their $5,000 Foundation grant to hold a “Family Fun Day” focused on the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.

“Family Fun Day,” a community-wide event, will feature educational presentations and materials, a “fun run” and a visit from the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™, a 20-foot interactive educational exhibit. The grant will also help the hospital continue to offer free colorectal cancer screenings during the month of March. Good Samaritan Hospital currently provides specialty care to over 320,000 residents of central Nebraska and northern Kansas. The goal for this project is to provide educational services to 3,000 individuals and screening services to 2,000 individuals.

“We are thrilled and honored to receive the Prevent Cancer grant—Nebraska has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates in the United States,” said Dana Welsh, program representative at Good Samaritan Hospital. “We feel that it is essential for us educate people about the importance of prevention and early detection and this grant will allow us to do that and further enhance our existing annual Colorectal Screening Program.”

Despite being one of the most preventable types of cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in the U.S. with over 143,000 people expected to be diagnosed with the disease in 2012. This year’s Screening Saves Lives Challenge theme was “families” and 19 organizations from across the country submitted proposals. After the public voted for their favorite projects online, an external review committee determined the winners from the top third.

“The applications demonstrate both the need in the diverse communities for colorectal cancer awareness and screening, and the impact of the community projects,” said Erica Childs Warner, Director of Evaluation and Outreach at the Prevent Cancer Foundation. “We are proud to support the important cancer prevention work of the Good Samaritan Hospital in Nebraska and recognize the valuable initiatives of all the 2012 applicants.”

ScreeningSavesLives.org contains community discussion boards, learning tools and sharing opportunities to raise awareness and promote an open dialogue about colorectal cancer. The Prevent Cancer Foundation continues to work toward raising awareness, increasing screening rates and promoting healthy living to ultimately reduce the death toll of this preventable cancer.

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About The Prevent Cancer Foundation:
Founded in 1985, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is one of the nation’s leading health organizations that has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. The Foundation seeks to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!  Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $125 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide.
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.

Researchers are working to improve testing to detect prostate cancer and testing to determine whether prostate cancer is likely to lead to death from the disease. There is no question that in some cases early detection of prostate cancer followed by prompt treatment saves lives. It is also clear that some men are treated for cancers that will never cause them harm, and they must live with possible side effects and complications of treatment. Currently available tests are useful but are not 100 percent accurate. It’s complicated.

To learn more about prostate cancer screening and to help you decide whether to get screened for prostate cancer, the Prevent Cancer Foundation continues to support these recommendations for the early detection of prostate cancer and recommends the American Cancer Society (ACS) Testing for Prostate Cancer guide that can be viewed or downloaded here.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org

(Washington D.C.)—The Prevent Cancer Foundation recognized four leaders in the cancer community at the 2012 Laurels Awards Luncheon during the 14th annual Dialogue for Action on Colorectal Cancer Screening conference. Sidney Winawer, MD, Jasit Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS, Ann Fonfa and Franklin Berger, PhD all received Cancer Prevention Laurels awards for their outstanding contributions to the cancer prevention field. The awards recognize their work in lifetime achievement, national leadership, advocacy and innovative programs, respectively.

Awarded the Laurel for Lifetime Achievement, Sidney Winawer, MD, is internationally recognized for his contributions to the prevention and diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Throughout his extensive career, Dr. Winawer has led groundbreaking research, served in numerous professional societies, championed many awareness and screening campaigns and still attends to cancer patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he is an attending physician and a member with tenure.

Jasjit Ahluwalia, MD, MPH, MS, recipient of the Laurel for National Leadership, has devoted the past 19 years to improving the health of high-risk populations, including underserved racial and ethnic minorities. His research has focused on nicotine addiction and smoking cessation in African American smokers. From conducting research in improving minority health to mentoring many early-career investigators, Dr. Ahluwalia’s outstanding work speaks for itself.

Recipient of the Laurel for Advocacy, Ann Fonfa is a breast cancer survivor who created the Annie Appleseed Project, an all-volunteer organization advocating for fresh approaches to cancer prevention, research and treatment. She tirelessly works on exploring and publicizing natural cancer therapies and the effects of treatment on survival and quality of life, as well as treatment efficacy, effectiveness, and adverse effects.

Franklin Berger, PhD, has led the way in promoting bold and innovative initiatives which have greatly increased colorectal cancer awareness, screening and early detection in South Carolina—earning him this year’s Laurel for Innovative Programs. Over the last 35 years he has worked both in the lab as a biomedical scientist and in local communities as an educator—bringing together colorectal cancer advocates, survivors, businesses and medical providers to work collaboratively to reduce colon cancer.

The Prevent Cancer Foundation has been honoring leaders in cancer prevention at the annual Laurels Luncheon for the past 9 years.

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About the Prevent Cancer Foundation:
The mission of the Prevent Cancer Foundation is to save lives through cancer prevention and early detection. Founded in 1985, the Foundation has provided more than $125 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide. For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Liona Chan
(703) 519-2107
Liona.Chan@preventcancer.org

(Alexandria, Va.)–In recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is launching the second annual Screening Saves Lives Challenge on March 1. The Challenge is a national competition for organizations to submit their best colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and awareness initiatives for their communities. The theme of this year’s Challenge is families.

Projects may range from public awareness and education to screening and patient navigation with a focus on families. The first prize winner will receive a $5,000 grant and a site visit from the Prevent Cancer Super Colon™, a 20-foot interactive educational exhibit, to enhance local CRC awareness efforts.

“Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed in the United States and one of the most preventable,” says Erica Childs Warner, Director of Community Outreach. “The Prevent Cancer Foundation realizes the importance of screening and awareness programs on the local level and uses the National Challenge as a way to champion grass-roots community projects.”

Community members are encouraged to support local CRC projects through online voting beginning April 12. The projects that receive the most votes will move on in the competition to be judged by a selection committee and the final winner will be announced on May 14.

The Screening Saves Lives website is the home base for the competition and contains community discussion boards, learning tools and sharing opportunities that will raise awareness and promote an open dialogue about CRC. To learn more, visit www.screeningsaves.org or call Sarah Abou at (703) 837-3682.

Since 2000, March has been National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month (NCRCAM). The Prevent Cancer Foundation is proud of its work each year during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and its history of raising awareness, increasing screening rates and promoting healthy living to ultimately reducing the death toll from this very preventable cancer.

About The Prevent Cancer Foundation:
Founded in 1985, the Prevent Cancer Foundation is one of the nation’s leading health organizations that has catapulted cancer prevention to prominence. The Foundation seeks to Stop Cancer Before It Starts!  Since its inception, the Foundation has provided more than $125 million in support of cancer prevention and early detection research, education, advocacy and community outreach nationwide.
For more information, please visit www.preventcancer.org.