As we continue to pivot our programs to a COVID-19 world, Fans for the Cure launched the charity’s Online Men’s Support Group in May. We are delighted that the first several Thursday programs have been greeted with such an enthusiastic welcome from men across the country.
Gaining Momentum with Each Call
The first online meeting was admittedly a humble one. There were four men on the screen. And yet, the conversation was engaging and friendly.
In our second online meeting – we gather every two weeks at 7:00 PM ET – we welcomed eight men to the call. Again, the conversation was centered on the specific issues of the men attending, with each sharing experiences to the extent each man was comfortable in doing so.
I wanted to express my gratitude to you and to the entire group of guys who came out swinging against this illness. Speaking for myself when I was told on Tuesday I had a second cancer recurrence it left me feeling alone and a little shaky. Last night I did not feel so alone.
– Jerry R., New York
On June 18, we had a biggest group of men yet – sixteen guys from a wide variety of locations hopped onto our Zoom call to connect and share with other men who are experiencing their own journey through prostate cancer.
As we prepare for our fourth gathering on Thursday, July 2nd at 7 PM ET, we look forward to welcoming back returning faces and meeting men who will be attending our online gathering for the first time.
A Welcoming Environment
Each call begins with a friendly reminder to the attendees that we are all coEach call begins with a friendly reminder to the attendees that we are all coming together to support each other and to share as openly as one feels comfortable doing. From there, Ed Randall, the organization’s Founder and CEO, shares a brief welcome message and sets out the focus topic for the call. After that, we briefly go around the Zoom call introducing ourselves, giving each man a chance to share his name and location. (This has helped members of the group get to better know one other and become more comfortable with the format.)
Following the introductions, the open discussion portion begins and continues for about an hour. Given the limitations of online meetings, the group wraps up the call about 75-90 minutes after we start.
More to Come
I certainly took a lot out of last night’s discussion. Looking forward to participating at the next discussion.
– Rich M., Arizona
As the structure of our programs continues to evolve, we plan to invite leading urologists, surgeons, radiologists, and researchers in the prostate cancer world to participate in our online gatherings. And we are coordinating with our healthcare partners to occasionally provide medical experts to share short presentations, followed by informal Q&A. We will announce in advance the participation of doctors and the evenings that will include medical presentations.
If there are specific topics or formats that you’d like us to explore or consider, please contact us to share your ideas.
RSVP to Attend Our Next Call
Should you wish to join us for our July groups, you can get the details of our next meeting and even RSVP to attend by clicking on the button below.
