A Successful Challenge for Prostate Cancer Awareness
Story and Photos
By Katie McFadden
Many men took the challenge on Saturday, September 14. September marks Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and thanks to Team Challenge at the Beach, a 5-mile run event which brought out Mount Sinai’s mobile prostate cancer screening vehicle to offer free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests to men, 44 men took advantage of the early detection method to see where their levels are at. And dozens turned out to run on the gorgeous late summer morning, including the Rockaway Gliders.
The event was spearheaded by local resident John Edwards, who was diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer and has lived under active surveillance since 2009. After the run, everyone was able to enjoy beer sponsored by Labatt and others, DJ music and more. A 50/50 was also held leading up to and during the event, to raise funds for Mount Sinai’s prostate cancer research efforts. One lucky winner got the call for his $3,700 prize and Edwards was able to make a nice donation to the hospital and report back on the 44 men stepping up to take the test, a number the staff was happy with as they normally get about half of that. “I’d consider that a success,” Edwards said.
