Prostate cancer is to men what breast cancer is to women. Unfortunately, there are fewer blue-ribbon events for prostate-cancer education than there are pink-ribbon events for breast-cancer awareness.

Yet, one in six men will experience prostate cancer. Heredity and race can increase their odds to as much as one in four.

Saturday, Sept. 26, is an opportunity to attend a blue-ribbon event and to take charge of your health or the health of the men in your life. I encourage you to celebrate Prostate Cancer Awareness Week locally by participating in The Hartford PACE Race 5K and Kids Half-Mile Run at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.

PACE (Prostate Awareness Cancer Education) is a series throughout the country. The only race dedicated to prostate-cancer awareness in Minnesota, this event is how the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC) publicly encourages men to get screened by their doctors. (For more information, visit the PACE website.)

192,000 diagnoses a year
"This year, about 192,000 men will be diagnosed and 27,000 will die from the disease. Many lives could be saved if more men would get screened for prostate cancer," says Dr. Craig Davidson, MD and senior medical director of The Hartford. "But it's not just about the numbers. It's about the survivors and their families who heeded the early screening recommendations and were treated before it was too late."

Additionally, as part of their efforts to raise greater prostate-cancer awareness in Minneapolis, the PCEC and The Hartford will provide gift bags for race participants and host a race-day prostate-cancer education booth, where people can talk to a doctor and pick up informational materials.
 
The sixth annual race will open for on-site registration beginning at 8 a.m. at the Lake Nokomis Community Center, 2401 E. Minnehaha Parkway, Minneapolis, MN  55417. The 5K start time will be 9 a.m., followed by the Kids Run at 10 a.m.

Activities will include special appearances by Miss Minnesota and Sharky from Underwater Adventures, pizza from Fat Lorenzo's and more. A medals ceremony will conclude the morning activities. There is a registration fee for both races.

So get out of bed Saturday morning, lace up for PACE and who knows — you or your child might even bring home a blue ribbon.

Susan Hegarty is a freelance writer and editor based in Apple Valley and a PACE race consultant.