Commmunity Involvement

Community Involvement

One of the things that we as prostate cancer survivors may do to help others is to speak out on the subject of prostate cancer in our community. Many men and their loved ones are not aware of the dangers presented by prostate cancer, and of how easily it may be diagnosed at a very early stage. There are many opportunities for us to do this - almost everyone is involved in some kind of social or civic organization, such as the Lions, Rotary, Elks, VFW, Church groups, and so on. It is usually easy to ask for ten or fifteen minutes to speak about a topic of importance to the health and well being of men over 50 in your group. If you need assistance or information pamphlets, just get in touch with a steering committee member, and we will give you any help you need. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, we may be able to arrange for a speaker for your group. The photo is of Dr. Stephen Strum, Harry Pinchot, and Doug Thornton at a community awareness meeting sponsored by Don Cooley and the San Jose Prostate Cancer Support Group in April of 2001. The meeting was attended by about 200 men and partners.

Atlantis Fantasyworld's Ferrara Raises Voice, Prostate Cancer Awareness with 12-Hour Sing-a-Thon September 14, 2008

59-year-old Joe Ferrara, owner of Santa Cruz, CA's Atlantis Fantasyworld, is not only a 32-year veteran of the comic industry, he's also a life-long musician and a cancer survivor. On Sunday, September 14, Ferrara put his many talents to good use to raise awareness for the benefit of prostate cancer screenings - and possibly broke a world record in the process!

In March of 2005, two of Ferrara's longtime friends and customers stopped in Atlantis Fantasyworld. The two men came in separately, about a week apart, and each told Ferrara they had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Neither of them showed any symptoms.

Ferrara was struck by their stories and decided it was time to get his own check-up. He too, had no symptoms, and was also diagnosed with prostate cancer. The early diagnosis gave Ferrara many treatment options. He chose surgery and is now cancer free and leading a normal life. He credits his two longtime friends - one of whom succumbed to the disease - with saving his life.

The comics retailer strives to do the same for other men. For the last two years, Ferrara and his wife have attended monthly meetings of the Santa Cruz Prostate Cancer Support Group, where they acquired not only a wealth of information about the disease but also a new, extended family.

"September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness month, but nobody knows it," said Ferrara. "I sell books about superheroes, but these men and women are my real life heroes. Longtime members and the newly diagnosed come together once a month in a confidential, nurturing environment to share information about treatments, diet, resources and other topics. These are people of great character and dignity and I am very proud to be associated with them."

Working with the Support Group and the Shadowbrook Restaurant in Capitola, CA, Ferrara launched a unique prostate cancer awareness campaign. On Sunday, September 14 in the Rock Room Lounge of the Shadowbrook Restaurant, Ferrara sang and played his guitar "continuously" from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The 12-hour marathon was free to the public.

"I began the marathon at 10:15 a.m. by playing the song 'Longer' in honor of Dan Fogelberg, who passed away at the age of 57 after a three-year battle with advanced prostate cancer," said Ferrara. "I finished the marathon at 10:28:17 p.m., playing a total of 12 hours, 13 minutes and 17 seconds. I played 182 different songs and was only off-stage a total of 37 minutes and 12 seconds! The room was packed all day with the greatest audience an entertainer could ask for."

Ferrara's feat may just set a world record for a solo performance by an individual in a club setting without repeating a song or using sheet music or lyric sheets. More important to the prostate cancer survivor, the event opened the eyes of the public to the need for screenings and early detection.

"Everyone, men and women alike, need to know the basic facts about prostate cancer. I was the one diagnosed with prostate cancer, but my whole family had to live with the effects of the disease," said Ferrara, father of four and grandfather of seven. "My thanks to all of you who were there and to all of you who called and sent your best wishes. It was a night I will never forget."