Prostate cancer is a serious men’s health issue in Kelowna just like every other community in B.C.
So organizers of the revived Father’s Day Walk Run in support of prostate cancer research and therapy and treatment programs will turn out on Father’s Day, June 21, for the event. It takes place at Mission Creek Regional Park, starting at 9:30 a.m. Rhonda Krushel, event coordinator for the Prostate Cancer Foundation BC, says this is the 17th year the event has been held, but will be the 8th time in Kelowna because the event was cancelled for many years.
Its revival is due largely to Raymond James, the financial services firm, who took over the lead sponsorship from Safeway. As part of their involvement, the firm wanted the event returned to Kelowna because there is a Raymond James office in our city. Cheryl Penner, with Raymond James, said their involvement was initially stoked by the enthusiasm of Sybil Verch, senior vice-president, western region, to fill the sponsorship void.
“One of the reasons we got involved is we want to give back to the communities where we work and live,” said Penner.The walk run also takes place this Sunday in Burnaby, the host city where the event started and which draws up to 1,400 participants annually, along with Victoria, Kamloops and Chilliwack.
Krushel said there will be a number of activities set up at the park on walk day in keeping with the family friendly characteristic the event was created around.
“Certainly we want to appeal to everyone to take part because many of us have had our lives touched in some way by prostate cancer. There are the survivors of it who are increasing in numbers because of medical treatment advances, but we also want to reach out women as prostate cancer is not just a men’s disease,” Krushel said. “It affects spouses or siblings when there husband or brother is diagnosed with prostate cancer.”
Krushel said she will be in Kelowna for the event and is looking forward to a strong turnout. For more information about the walk run, check out the website www.therfathersdayrun.ca or call 1-877-840-9173 to register as a pledge donor.
