JUNE 2025

As June – Men’s Health Month – draws to a close, I want to thank everyone who helped make it such a meaningful time for our mission and the men we serve. Your generosity is deeply appreciated during these uncertain times for community-based charities like ours, when every gift helps us to continue being present for those who need our services most.

By the end of this month, Fans for the Cure will have participated in eight community health events across New Jersey, Westchester, and New York City (including three on June 14), providing education, resources, and connections to care in neighborhoods where they are most needed.

We also continued our June tradition at the ballparks – with more details below. 

We are grateful for the significant outpouring of support during our Father’s Day Matching Gift campaign. Thanks to a generous group of longtime donors, every dollar of the $15,000 matching fund was met – allowing us to extend our reach even further into communities of need.

From all of us at Fans for the Cure, thank you for helping us keep our men in the game.

With gratitude,

Ed Randall
Founder + Chief Advocacy Officer
Fans for the Cure

Our organization is proud to share that Karen Shaffer, a vital member of the Fans for the Cure team, has been named one of Cancer Health Magazine’s “Cancer Health 25: A Salute to Patient Advocates” for 2025. This honor recognizes 25 individuals making a significant difference in the lives of people impacted by cancer—particularly in underserved and marginalized communities.

Karen was selected for her leadership and compassion in the fight against prostate cancer, especially through her work in New Jersey’s community screening programs and public health initiatives. She was also acknowledged for her pivotal role as moderator of our Online Women’s Support Group, which has now been active for five years. Under Karen's guidance, the group has grown in both size and stature, offering education, empathy, and a welcoming space for caregivers and partners navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis in their families.

Karen’s inclusion on this year’s Cancer Health 25 list is a well-deserved recognition of her dedication, insight, and tireless work on behalf of others. All of us at Fans for the Cure offer our heartfelt congratulations and thank for her efforts in service to the community we serve.

June has taken Fans for the Cure on the road for two standout awareness events with Major League Baseball partners.

On June 11, we joined the Kansas City Royals and medical professionals from KU Health at Kauffman Stadium to connect with fans about the importance of early detection. Then on Father’s Day in Philadelphia, our Founder Ed Randall threw out the first pitch to the Phillie Phanatic at Citizens Bank Park. Our staff and several family volunteers spent the pregame and first three innings at a table inside the 3rd Base Plaza, sharing vital health information with fans and families.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the community outreach staffs of both the Royals and the Phillies. Their support, enthusiasm, and genuine hospitality went over and above to make these events possible – and impactful.

We were honored to welcome Dr. Matthew Ferroni of the Mercy Urology Clinic in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as our Support Group guest for Men’s Health Month. His topic— “At what age should men stop PSA screening?”—sparked a thoughtful and wide-ranging 75-minute discussion and Q&A.

Dr. Ferroni outlined the debate – stop at age 70, as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends, or base it on individual health and life expectancy, as many researchers now suggest. With clarity and compassion, he shared the evidence behind both approaches and encouraged men to speak with their doctors about what's right for them.

We thank Dr. Ferroni for an insightful evening that embodied the heart of our support groups: informative, respectful, and empowering.

On Saturday, June 21, we launched Catch It Early, a new series of morning catches on baseball diamonds across the New York Metro area. Part of our Catch for the Cure initiative, the program runs from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. and is designed to bring people together for a timeless game of catch while spreading the life-saving message of early detection for prostate cancer.

Our first early catch took place at Flowers Park in New Rochelle, where families, former teammates, and new friends took the field. Among those joining our catch and our discussion prior to their own game at 10 a.m. were two young travel team players who spoke about their grandfathers’ experiences with prostate cancer—underscoring how this disease touches generations.

Keep an eye out for upcoming July catch dates and locations.
Bring a glove, a ball, and someone you love. Let’s stay in the game – together.

In addition to the events already covered in this issue, Fans for the Cure was proud to take part in several other key programs this month. We joined Community Board 3 for a health fair in Corona, Queens (N.Y.), connecting with residents and sharing vital prostate health resources. That same day, our staff also partnered with ManKave in Hackensack, N.J. for a dynamic men’s health event at Fairleigh Dickinson University, drawing a diverse and engaged audience of over 130 men.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to return to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on June 29 for an awareness event with the Kernels and our partners at Mercy Urology Clinic, followed the next evening by a screening and education night at T-Mobile Park in Seattle with the Mariners, Playbook for Health, and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

It has already been a packed month – and we are not done yet!

Both of our online support groups are free and open to all men and women respectively, with registration required.

Men's Support Group

• Thursday, June 26 at 7 PM ET – Register for the Men's Support Group meeting. 
• Thursday, July 10 at 7 PM ET

Women's Support Group

• Tuesday, July 1 at 8 PM ET – Register for the Women's Support Group meeting.
• Tuesday, July 15 at 8 PM ET

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.

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.

Over the past twenty years, Fans for the Cure has been fortunate 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.

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.

1. Prostate cancer screenings and guidelines – Posted on the Penn Medicine website.
2. VIDEO: Cancer survivor's advice: Early screening saves lives – A news piece from WCOV 20 in Alabama highlighting that prostate cancer most often does not present symptoms.
3. Five Steps to Good Health: Essential Advice for Men – Shared by our friends and colleagues at Pfizer.
4. Radiation and Resilience: Laughing Through the Hardest Days – By Dave Davison, published on CureToday.
5. Cancer DNA is detectable in blood years before diagnosis

Despite the challenges facing so many nonprofits across the nation,  we continue to deliver our programs in communities where our programs are needed most. Your help enables us to continue to do so. Please give today.

Call us: 888-301-4414