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As last week’s Opening Day reminded us, baseball is back — and with it, a busy and meaningful season for Fans for the Cure. The health events we organize and attend increasingly take place in parks and outdoor spaces, as we work with community leaders to bring education about prostate cancer to men who need our services most.
Our 2026 calendar is coming into focus. From April through November, we expect to participate in about 20 ballpark events nationwide and more than 40 community health events, many with free screening components through our medical partners. About 2/3 of our community work will take place close to home – across New York City’s five boroughs, New Jersey, Westchester, and Long Island.
As we examined prostate cancer statistics this winter with members of our Medical Advisory Board, several things became apparent. One is that too few men between 45-69 are receiving annual PSA blood tests, with the number estimated to be about 35% of this age range tested in the past year. With early detection being the key to least invasive treatment (if treatment is needed at all) and best outcomes, we cannot have over 60% of men most susceptible to prostate cancer skipping their annual screening for the disease.
So, we will keep showing up — at churches, barbershops, community centers, ballparks, and wherever men gather. That’s where impactful conversations begin and where action must follow.
We hope you will join us this season — attend an event, spread the word, bring someone with you. Thank you, as always, for standing with Fans for the Cure and helping us make a difference in people’s lives. |
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National Caregivers Day — February 20
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National Caregivers Day on February 20 gave us an opportunity to recognize those who are so often the steady presence behind every prostate cancer journey — caregivers.
Fans for the Cure marked the day with a thoughtful, well-attended program, Beyond Treatment: The Emotional Side of Prostate Cancer Care Partnering, hosted by Fans for the Cure and the American Cancer Society. We brought together medical professionals, advocates, and members of our community to focus on the real challenges caregivers face — from navigating treatment decisions to managing the emotional toll of a diagnosis.
Panelists included:
- Dr. Allison Applebaum, Mount Sinai
- Dr. Andrew Roth, Emeritus Member of the Psychiatry Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering
- Dr. Nicole Stout, American Cancer Society
The complete webinar video is available on Fans for the Cure's YouTube channel.
You can also access the video, links to resources and information mentioned by the panelists, and the transcript of the discussion on the Fans for the Cure website.
We hope you will join us at future Caregiver Connection events, including those planned for November 2026, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM).
We are grateful for the financial support of Ball Chain Manufacturing, Calvary Hospital, Pitta, LLP, and the Giants Foundation, whose generosity helped make this program possible.
Caregivers are the backbone of this work. Their role is constant, demanding, and deeply personal. We remain committed to ensuring they are seen and supported every step of the way. |
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Dr. Alukal Podcast Released
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Fans for the Cure is pleased to publish a special edition of our Stay in the Game podcast featuring Dr. Joseph Alukal of ColumbiaDoctors and the NYP The One Men’s Health Center.
In a broad discussion, Dr. Alukal focuses on prostate cancer treatment side effects that can significantly impact men’s sexual health, particularly erectile dysfunction. As Dr. Alukal mentions several times throughout the discussion, “We have treatments that will solve your problems.”
In just ten days, this episode has already become one of the most downloaded in the five-year history of Stay in the Game.
We are grateful to our ongoing podcast sponsors, Bayer and Cancer Health, for their continued support. |
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A Busy Weekend Ahead — May 15–16
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Fans for the Cure will be on the move during an upcoming weekend of outreach and education.
On Friday, May 15, we will join the Detroit Tigers and medical professionals from the Karmanos Cancer Institute from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m., bringing prostate health information directly to fans and families. This is part of an annual three-day Strike Out Cancer collaboration, and we are pleased to have been invited to participate by the Tigers and Karmanos.
Saturday, May 16 brings us home for a full day in the New York area. From 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., we will again take part in Park Avenue Day in Manhattan, connecting with thousands at one of the city’s most active and well attended community gatherings.
At the same time, from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Fans for the Cure will again host a “Prostate Cancer 101” session with the First Baptist Church at the Yonkers Public Library — a focused program designed to inform, answer questions, and encourage screening. Local Westchester urologists will be presenting at this event.
Three events in two days — all centered on one goal: meeting men where they are and encouraging them take charge of their health. |
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Support Your Team — Support the Cause
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$1.00 per team win. $1.00 per team home run.
Make your pledge — and turn a great season into one of meaningful impact.
Join Fans for the Cure in supporting the generous participation of managers, coaches, and players:
Boone Squad — Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees
Carlos’ Clubhouse — Carlos Mendoza and the New York Mets
6 for the Cure — Steve Garvey and the Los Angeles Dodgers
In addition to a dedicated page on our website for this initiative, we will announce additional managers and coaches in next month’s newsletter.
Fans are invited to pledge $1.00 per team win and $1.00 per home run throughout the season — a simple way to support awareness, education, and screening programs. As with last year, you will be billed at the conclusion of the regular season.
To make your pledge, email us at [email protected], and we will confirm that you have made the team. |
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We Are Here When You Need Us
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At the center of everything Fans for the Cure does is a simple goal: to be there when men and families are most in need information, guidance, and support.
That support is offered whenever it is needed.
Our Men’s and Womens’/Caregivers’ Support Groups bring together individuals at every stage of the prostate cancer journey — newly diagnosed, in treatment, managing recurrence, or supporting a loved one.
We also respond every day to men and families seeking trusted information — whether it’s understanding a diagnosis, weighing treatment options, or finding the right next step.
No question is too small. It’s never too early — or too late — to reach out.
Call us at 888-301-4414 or email [email protected]. We are here to help — and to listen. |
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Thank You for Your Support
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To our donors and supporters and to those who take the opportunity to encourage us in what we do — thank you.
Your generosity in 2026 and throughout our charity's history makes it possible for Fans for the Cure to bring education, awareness, and access to care to communities that need it most.
We are grateful to those who have supported us through gifts of securities, and to those exploring additional ways of giving, including real estate. Through our relationship with Merrill Lynch, we are now able to smoothly facilitate your non-cash contributions far more efficiently.
We also encourage consideration of those with donor-advised funds (DAFs), which now hold more than $260 billion in charitable assets nationally — an important opportunity to support community-based organizations doing hands-on work.
If you are considering a gift or would like to learn more, we welcome the conversation. We are always glad to share how our programs are reaching men in communities where trust matters and access to care is limited. We invite any questions that you have via our email of [email protected].
In many of these areas, men are increasingly reluctant to seek care or even leave their homes. That makes this work — and your support — even more important.
Thank you for standing with us. |
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Upcoming Support Group Meetings |
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Both of our online support groups are free and open to all men and women respectively, with registration required.
Men's Support Group
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Fans for the Cure allows attendees to register for only the immediately upcoming online support group meeting. Thanks for understanding our desire to keep our meetings safe, secure, and private. |
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We thank Bayer for generously underwriting the technical and production costs associated with Fans for the Cure’s Online Men’s and Women’s/Caregivers’ Support Groups. |
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REFERRALS, SUPPORT, CONNECTIONS:
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With the warmer weather, it is time for spring cleaning. We invite you to make time for your annual health check-up as well.
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Over the past twenty years, Fans for the Cure has worked diligently to develop a strong network of trusted doctors, many of whom practice at NCI-Designated Cancer Centers and highly regarded regional hospitals. We are always available to assist you in finding a prostate cancer-focused physician or multidisciplinary team to guide you and your loved ones through all phases of the disease.
For timely referrals in all fifty states and Canada, please get in touch with us at (888) 301-4414 or via the orange button below. We promise to get back to you within twenty-four hours at the very latest. |
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PROSTATE CANCER ARTICLES OF INTEREST |
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In this section, we share links to blog posts, news articles, medical journals, books, and other items that we think will be of interest to you. |
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Be a Part of the Team that Cares
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For those journeying with prostate cancer, the world can be a tough place. Through our support groups, online webinars, and in-person awareness and screening events, we work to connect with and support men and their families along this cumbersome road. We ask to you join our efforts by giving a donation today. |
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FANS for the CURE
PO Box 213, New York, NY 10101-0213
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