Team Challenge at the Beach Challenges Men to Get Cancer Screenings

By Katie McFadden

After skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States, according to the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center. About one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Men over age 50 have the greatest risk of developing prostate cancer. Local resident John Edwards, who was diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer and has been living under Active Surveillance since 2009, is hoping other men stop it in its tracks, with early screenings. Such services will be available on Saturday, September 14, as part of the Team Challenge at the Beach, a 5-mile run to raise awareness and funds for Mount Sinai’s prostate cancer research.

On Saturday, everyone is invited to head to the Beach 94th Amphitheater for Team Challenge at the Beach. Pre-race check in begins at 8:30 a.m. and the 5-mile race begins at 10 a.m. on the boardwalk. A post-race after party and awards ceremony with food, drinks, t-shirts and music will take place back at the Amphitheater. A 50/50 will be held to raise funds for Mount Sinai’s prostate cancer research. However, a big highlight of the event will be Mount Sinai’s Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening vehicle. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the service will be available to men 40 and above who can take advantage of free prostate-specific antigen tests, a simple blood test with immediate results to find if their levels are elevated, raising alarms for prostate cancer.

Edwards is hosting this event to help other men, and to help his doctor, Ash Tewari, M.D., promote the new service. Edwards has a kidney condition and was referred to a urologist at North Shore Health on Long Island by his nephrologist about 15 years ago, where an MRI, a PSA test and ultimately a biopsy led to him being diagnosed with low grade prostate cancer. “You hear the word cancer, and it scares you,” he said. Fortunately for Edwards, it was caught early, and he’s been on Active Surveillance for 15 years, without having to undergo surgeries or treatments. “I’ve been lucky to avoid that. But sometimes cancers are caught too late, so that’s why I’m pushing others to take this PSA blood test. It takes five minutes, and they give you a preliminary understanding of where you’re at. If your PSA is low, you’re good. If it’s high, you should get another one and then an MRI and biopsy,” Edwards said. He knows personally just how bad cancers can get, having lost two friends to prostate cancer, and last year, losing his brother, Billy, to bladder cancer. “It sucks. It really sucks. It kills everyone the same way, degrading your body, it’s disgusting what cancer does,” Edwards said.

After his wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2014 and found herself in the care of Mount Sinai, Edwards made the switch for his own medical needs. “I met Dr. Tewari, and we consolidated all of our medical care to Mount Sinai. We’re very happy with it. They’ve got great doctors and nurses,” Edwards said.

Edwards’ own experience is why he knows the value of early intervention and leading a healthy lifestyle. Although Edwards spent many years in the bakery business, he’s always balanced it out by actively running. About 20 years ago, he started the Rockapulco Run, a running organization that ran regular events from charitable runs to fun Santa Shuffles, before turning over the reins to Jim McVeigh, who has since transformed it into Rockaway Track Club. Edwards is also a regular New York City Marathoner. This November, Edwards will run his 30th NYC Marathon, suggesting it may be his last one. However, Edwards credits running with helping him keep relatively healthy. “Without a doubt it helps with health,” he said. “It’s increased my capacity for longevity, I’m sure of it.”

So with a charitable aspect and mission in mind, Edwards created Team Challenge at the Beach, a run styled after other Team Challenge type-runs with a 5-mile distance, and a cause of raising awareness, funds and preventative care for prostate cancer. There will be prizes, awards and giveaways for those who run.

On August 29, Edwards held a fundraiser at The Rockaway Hotel to get a head start on raising money, with the hopes of raising more through the 50/50. Those who aren’t runners can participate in a one mile walk or can stop by just to support the cause.

“We’re hoping for a good day. We’re hoping men get the blood test, we hope people get 50/50 tickets so we can make a good donation to the hospital, we hope nobody gets hurt and we hope for good weather,” Edwards said.

To pre-register as an individual or a team and for more information, head to: www.teamchallengeatthebeach.com