The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 192,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone. With the goal of bringing an end to this terrible disease, Kimberly-Clark Corp. (Dallas, Texas, USA) reports that its Depend brand this past week launched the second year of "The Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer." The four-month campaign, which kicked off in celebration of Men's Health Month this month and culminates in September with National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, engages a star-studded lineup of sports legends as campaign ambassadors and awareness advocates.
In addition to encouraging men to talk to their doctor to learn more about their risk for prostate cancer, each legend has pledged to share more about his personal experience with the disease as well as demonstrate to men how easy it is to be proactive about prostate health. New additions to the lineup include Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, Pro Baseball legend and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, and Pro Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Bossy, who will help introduce the program in Canada. Returning to this year's team are Pro Football Hall of Famers Rod Woodson and Len Dawson, World Boxing Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez and baseball legend and ZERO board member Ken Griffey, Sr.
Through 2010, proceeds from the purchase of each package of Depend Underwear for Men and Depend Guards for Men will contribute to a total donation of $250,000 to ZERO - The Project to End Prostate Cancer to help fund education and research initiatives.
"More than 3.8 million men in the U.S. are currently managing some form of incontinence, many of whom are doing so as a result of a prostate-related health issue," said Mark Cammarota, Depend brand marketing director at Kimberly-Clark. "Through 'The Depend Campaign to End Prostate Cancer,' we remain committed to promoting much-needed discussion and publicizing that this disease is not only treatable, it's beatable."
Football great Jim Kelly turned 50 this year and joined the cause to convey to men the importance of early detection. Video and commentary from Kelly's most recent prostate specific antigen (PSA) test can be viewed on the campaign website, which offers men and their families a comprehensive resource library that includes a database of articles, essays, and tools to help them ask the right questions and make smart decisions about prostate health. The site also features a multimedia section that spotlights each of the campaign ambassadors and includes their video testimonials, providing visitors a unique, first-person account of each ambassador's life experience with prostate cancer.
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