My Story

Dear Elected Officials

My name is Linda Hoetger and on June 19, 2009, my life forever changed when my husband Ray and I were given the devastating news that Ray had an aggressive form of prostate cancer. He is a 20 year Veteran of the United States Air Force. Thankfully he remains in Remission!  However, I was not about to sit back and do nothing! I started advocating and raising awareness for this horrible disease that no one seems to want to talk about. In 2012, I began working with ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, a national nonprofit with the mission to end prostate cancer. ZERO advances research, improves the lives of men and families, and inspires action. There are men living in your communities who are also affected with prostate cancer and are not speaking up as this disease has a devastating effect on them and their families. It is so important to let them know they are not alone. We care and we are ready to support and educate communities across the nation about Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September! Congressman Steve Stivers, Governor John Kasich, State Senators Troy Balderson, Kevin Bacon, Larry Obhof, Frank Hoagland, John Eklund are among elected officials supporting our efforts. Including supporting Mayors from Ohio, Kingston, New York, Columbus, Georgia., Cleveland, Tennessee, New Bern, North Carolina, and Columbus, Indiana. Join us with this epic movement across the nation.

Working with ZERO has given me so many more opportunities to help raise awareness and to be part of ending prostate cancer. Each year Ray and I speak to our elected officials at the Annual ZERO Prostate Cancer Summit in Washington, D.C., and work locally in Ohio and across the nation to secure proclamations from each local government.

1 in 9  men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Someone in your family or you may know someone impacted by prostate cancer.  Your support is needed as education and awareness for prostate cancer is limited across the nation. Prostate cancer awareness month is in September, I am asking for your support in hopes that you to can challenge and encourage your surrounding communities to join us in raising awareness and education so men can make an informed decision if treatment is needed in their lifetime. Your support means the world to those battling this horrible disease and gets men talking and veterans sharing their story as well. While men are sharing their story, other men and families know they are not alone in this fight and in turn encourage others to share too. Please share the Proclamations on your City, Village and Township Social Media pages as another way to help raise awareness in hopes to also get men to speak up and share too.
Each September, the nation recognizes prostate cancer awareness month to help defeat the third leading cause of cancer deaths among men. An estimated 29,430 husbands, sons, brothers, fathers, and grandfathers will lose their lives to prostate cancer in 2018. An Ohio resident has been hard at work to ensure that these proclamations are renewed annually. Linda & Ray Hoetger has spoken with local leaders to remind communities of the pain and suffering of prostate cancer. As a result, Mayors, Legislators, City Council Members, Town/Village manager, County Commissioners and Ohio Statehouse Representatives will issue a Proclamation, Resolution and Letters of Commendations declaring September Prostate Cancer Awareness month. Elected officials have shared this with newspapers and newsletters as another way to help promote prostate cancer awareness and education. And invite members of the Proclamation Team to Council meetings to share their stories and information about prostate cancer.
We ask that you send a copy so that our Proclamation Team across the nation can share your community support. The copies are taken to prostate cancer events and on Capitol Hill.  The Prostate Cancer Community Thanks you for you support!

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month

Whereas, this year approximately 164,690  men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the United States alone every year – that’s one man every 3.2 minutes and roughly 29,430 die this year from the disease – which is one man every 18 minutes; and

Whereas, in Ohio an estimated 5,810 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 1,110 deaths will occur in 2018; and

Whereas, Men with relatives – father, brother, son – with a history of prostate cancer are twice as likely to develop the disease; 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, 1 in 9  men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. 1 in 6 African American men will develop prostate cancer in his lifetime. Overall, African American men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with—and 2.3 times more likely to die from—prostate cancer than white men.

Whereas, Education regarding prostate cancer and early detection strategies is critical to saving lives, preserving, and protecting our families. The economical and social hardship it has on the families is huge; and

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