September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Dear Mayor, Council Members, Trustees, Commissioners, Representatives and Senators

**Press Release **

Each September, the nation recognizes prostate cancer awareness month to help defeat the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men. An estimated 27,000 husbands, sons, brothers, fathers and grandfathers will lose their lives to prostate cancer in 2017.

An Ohio resident has been hard at work to ensure that these proclamations are renewed annually. Linda Hoetger has spoken with local leaders to remind communities of the pain and suffering of prostate cancer. As a result, more than 300 Mayors, Legislators, City Council Members, and Town/Village managers and County Commissioners will issue a proclamation or resolution declaring September prostate cancer awareness month.

My name is Linda Hoetger, I am a wife & caregiver of a Prostate Cancer Survivor, PCAM (Prostate  Cancer Awareness Month) Proclamation Team  Member & Advocate with ZERO The End of Prostate Cancer, the mom of 4 sons, a new grandmother of two grandsons. One is Bi-racial with prostate cancer on both sides of family. My husband is a Retired Veteran of the U.S. Air Force.  Did you know In Ohio an estimated 5,840 new cases of prostate cancer and an estimated 1,020 deaths will occur? Did you know that a male at any age has a risk of developing prostate Cancer? This disease has even been diagnosed in children, the youngest Survivor that we have been honored to have met was 9 years old when he was diagnosed with his first battle with prostate cancer. His second battle with prostate cancer occurred at age 12. I can not imagine being told that my child has prostate cancer.

My Journey began June 19, 2009 we were told the devastating news that my husband has an aggressive form of prostate cancer, we were both stunned, shocked and horrified. We had to learn a new foreign language PSA, Gleason, positive margins just to name a few. It is hard enough trying to deal with the diagnosis and finding even harder that when you say these two words Prostate Cancer, people run the other way. I know it is hard for men to talk after their diagnosis with prostate cancer, it is not just a Man’s disease it is a Couple’s disease. For our families every day and month is Prostate Cancer Awareness 24/7 365!

We are coming up on our 8th year after the diagnosis and it has become my mission to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer in September and through out the year. I am reaching out to every City, Village and Townships, Representatives, Senators, Congressional members & Commissioners in Ohio asking for support with a Proclamation or Resolution for Prostate Cancer Awareness in September and would love to have your support.  Since my husband’s diagnosis I have met many families of prostate cancer, sadly some of them have lost their battle from this horrible disease.  My heart breaks every time I hear the news and it makes me fight harder to raise awareness to let the families know that their loved one is still thought of and hopefully one day Prostate Cancer will be a disease that men will never have to hear those devastating word. I am sorry you have prostate cancer!                                    

I have gained overwhelming support from Mayors, Council members and Trustees from across Ohio and is asking for your support too. Many are living in your community and have not had the courage to speak up to share their Journey with others. With signing a proclamation or resolution from you City, Village or Township lets those dealing with prostate cancer know that they are not alone. And someone cares.   I have gained  the support from Representative Heather Bishoff, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Senator Kevin Bacon, Adams County Board of Commissioners,  Chalmers P. Wylie Department of Veterans Affairs and keeps growing. Mayor Rich Harman of the Village of Woodville has went above and beyond supporting prostate cancer awareness. By lighting Landmarks and placing Blue ribbons in the Village. In 2017 more Representatives, Senate and Congress members are joining in to help raise awareness for prostate cancer.  I have sample text of the Whereas for the Proclamation or feel free to use your own. Please feel free to share it with others as well it is my goal that every City, Village and Township will have a Proclamation/Resolution in place by September. We are again gaining support from Commissioners from around Ohio. I encourage you to contact those around your community and ask for their support in raising awareness for prostate cancer. Together we can end prostate cancer!
Every year  my husband and I attend the ZERO Summit in Washington, DC and speak with elected officials from Ohio. I take the Proclamations and Resolutions with me and share them on Capitol Hill to encourage those to keep the funding and research in the FY budget. My husband and I were on Capitol Hill March 1, 2017 along with other prostate cancer fighters speaking with Senators and Congress Members. As we were leaving Capitol Hill we learned that $10 Million was added to the budget for FY17. The budget for prostate cancer research and funding is now $90 Million.

My challenge you to illuminate a Landmark Blue in September. Some Villages has tied Blue ribbons in the town showing their support.  Please consider supporting to have Ohio be the first State to have all cities supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness.

Can I count on your City, Village and Township? Please feel free to share and encourage others to support our cause.

I have a blog for raising awareness as well. Peteytheprostatecrusader(dot)blogspot.com

Thank you for your consideration,
Linda Hoetger and the prostate cancer community

Please send a copy to:
Linda Hoetger
PCAM (Prostate Cancer Awareness Month) Proclamation Team
***(Please contact for address)***
Canal Winchester, Ohio 43110
614-312-5576 Mobile/Text

**Please write on envelopes **
Do not bend

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month

Whereas, Prostate cancer constitutes 19% of all cancer diagnoses and 8% of all cancer deaths; and

Whereas, In Ohio an estimated 5,840 new cases of prostate cancer and an estimated 1,020 deaths will occur; and

Whereas, Men with relatives – father, brother, son – with a history of prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease; and

Whereas, Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to get prostate cancer; and

Whereas, Prostate cancer is most commonly diagnosed cancer in American Men and the third leading cause of cancer death behind lung and colon cancer; and

Whereas, this year approximately 161,360 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States alone every year – that’s one man every 3.3 minutes and roughly 26,730 die this year from the disease – which is one man every 20 minutes; and

Whereas, 1 in 8 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. African American men are at the highest risk for the disease with a rate of 1 in 6 men. African American men are 2.3 times more likely to die from the disease: and

Whereas, Education regarding prostate cancer and early detection strategies is critical to saving lives, preserving, and protecting our families; and

Whereas, all men are at risk for prostate cancer and we encourage the citizens of (City) to increase the importance of prostate screenings.