Although awareness programs for prostate cancer have increased screening and education goals in the last decade, no group has done as good a job at advocacy, outreach, research fundraising and public education as the breast cancer coalitions. A new group, ZERO, The Project To End Prostate Cancer, is aiming to meet the bar raised by breast cancer groups and become serious players in the fight to end deaths from this prevalent men’s cancer.

What makes this goal possible is that prostate cancer is highly curable when detected early so screening and public education is essential. And secondarily, because of the variety of treatments available, much more needs to be done to fully educate men on the quality of their survivorship as well.

ZERO is headed by Skip Lockwood and Jamie Bearse who have had senior management experience with non-profit organizations (Bearse is EVP of National Prostate Cancer Coalition) for many years. Their executive vision is a four year plan (2008-2012) to target education, research funding, and screening with the goal of significantly reducing death from prostate cancer and increasing the quality of life for all diagnosed with the disease. As their summary states: ZERO tolerance for prostate cancer, ZERO PSA score, and the eventual public health goal of ZERO new cases of prostate cancer in the future.

Their first major fundraising event is Dash For Dad, a 10K race being held for the first time September 28th in Alexandria, Virginia. According to the NPCC website, the Washington area was chosen because men in D.C. have the highest death rate from prostate cancer. Even so, according to NPCC, a man dies from prostate cancer every 18 minutes so this disease affects millions.

Breast cancer organizations have a plethora of race-related opportunities for cancer survivors who now get out in force to show the world a united front in their a shared journey and to raise much-needed funds for the cause - the time has come to step up the efforts to bring prostate cancer awareness and outreach up to the same gold standard. Whether they race or not, in this effort all men will be winners.