In ongoing support of prostate cancer research, Sanford Siegel, M.D., President and CEO of Chesapeake Urology Associates, presented the Urology Care Foundation with a check for $114,248 in support of its prostate cancer research efforts. The funds, which were raised through the Zero Prostate Cancer Challenge (ZPCC) 10K/5K run in September 2013, were presented at the AUA Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida on May 16, 2014. The Urology Care Foundation is the official foundation of the American Urological Association (AUA)—an organization of roughly 20,000 urologists.
Chesapeake Urology Associates, a leading proponent for the advancement of critical prostate cancer research, is proud to sponsor the Chesapeake Urology Prostate Fund at the Urology Care Foundation and, to date, has raised nearly $900,000 through its fundraising efforts to benefit prostate cancer research, education, as well as free screenings for men throughout the Greater Baltimore region. Chesapeake Urology anticipates reaching its goal of $1 million endowment for the prostate fund in 2015.
"Prostate cancer takes the lives of more than 30,000 men every year," says Dr. Siegel. "Because of this staggering statistic, Chesapeake Urology remains committed to ending prostate cancer by helping to find a cure through the support of groundbreaking research and free screening programs."
In support of this commitment, Chesapeake Urology created The Great Prostate Cancer Challenge® (GPCC) in 2007, a fundraising initiative solely focused on prostate cancer research, awareness, and free screenings for men in need. It is the only physician-based awareness and fundraising program in the country and has been adopted by 40 urology practices in 36 cities nationwide since its inception. In 2013, the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge became the ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge to raise greater awareness of prostate cancer and the nonprofit, ZERO-The End of Prostate Cancer.
ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge Annual 5K run / 1 Mile Fun Walk
The ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge fundraising efforts are focused around an annual 5K/1 Mile Fun Walk each September during National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. This event, along with other events throughout the year including the Great Prostate Cancer Challenge Baltimore Golf Classic, which teams up with LPGA tour players to help in the fight against prostate cancer, generates financial support to help end prostate cancer through research. Since its inception, Chesapeake Urology physicians and staff, patients and families, and friends of the ZPCC have helped raise more than $2 million in Baltimore to assist in finding a cure and spreading awareness of prostate cancer. Funds from The ZERO Prostate Cancer Challenge are donated to the nonprofits, ZERO-The Project to End Prostate Cancer and the Urology Care Foundation in an effort to advance prostate cancer research with the hope of one day finding a cure for the devastating disease.
Free Prostate Cancer Testing for Men in Need
A portion of the money raised from the ZPCC also remains local, funding a number of free prostate cancer screenings each year throughout the Baltimore Metro area. The locations of the screening events are carefully chosen and are held in areas with an underserved population. Since African- American men are at a 60 percent greater risk of this disease, Chesapeake Urology partners with many African American churches in the Baltimore area and Chesapeake Urology doctors and staff volunteer their time and expertise at these health events. To date, Chesapeake Urology has screened more than 4,000 men through this program.
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