OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oakland Raiders fans will see the addition of blue to their cherished silver and black at the Raiders home opener against the New York Jets on Sunday, Sept. 25. The Raiders are joining Blue September and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) to raise awareness and education for prostate cancer.
In support of prostate cancer awareness, the famed Raiderettes will be wearing blue ribbon pins, an end zone banner will be on display and stadium officials will play a public service announcement featuring Raiders legend and prostate cancer survivor, Jim Otto. Three prostate cancer patients and survivors will be presenting the game ball, adorned in blue jerseys with a number that represents the age at which they were diagnosed. The presenters are:
The Honorable S. Ward Casscells, MD, former Assistant U.S. Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, who is currently in treatment for advanced, recurrent prostate cancer. He has participated in several important drug trials to help accelerate the approval of new treatments for patients. While on chemotherapy, Dr. Casscells served a tour of duty as a U.S. Army officer in Iraq in 2006. He was diagnosed at age 49.
Rusty Keyes, a firefighter for the City of Oakland, will carry the game ball. After receiving radiation treatment, Keyes was declared cancer-free by his medical team. He was diagnosed at age 54.
Dan Zenka, senior vice president of communications for the Prostate Cancer Foundation, was diagnosed at age 51, two years after joining the foundation. Following surgery in 2010, he was diagnosed with advanced, metastatic disease, and is in several years of treatment including radiation and androgen deprivation therapy. He is the author of a popular cancer blog, MyNewYorkMinute.org.
“Prostate cancer is to men what breast cancer is to women, yet open dialogue of the disease lags behind other cancers,” says Zenka. “We are grateful to the Oakland Raiders for stepping up and being one of the first NFL teams to support prostate cancer in a high profile way. The Raiders’ support will generate important discussions that could help save men’s lives.”
This year, more than 240,000 new cases of prostate cancer are projected to be diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 33,000 American men will die as a result. Worldwide, more than 16 million men and their families are challenged by prostate cancer. Blue September is raising awareness worldwide for prostate cancer during September by encouraging men over 40 to talk with their physicians about prostate cancer and receive screening.
Raiders’ fans will be able to collect free information on prostate cancer and trinkets prior to the game at a specially marked Blue September and Prostate Cancer Foundation information booth located at Gate C of the Oakland Coliseum.
About the Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world’s leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating research. Founded in 1993, PCF has raised more than $450 million and provided funding to more than 1,500 researchers at nearly 200 institutions in 12 countries. PCF advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more efficient investment of governmental research funds supporting transformational cancer research. Our efforts have helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer. More information about PCF can be found at pcf.org.