For Immediate Release Contact Ken Malik @ 415-661-2691
December 21, 2006 kamalik@sbcglobal.net
PROSTATE CANCER CLIMB OF MT BLANC
IN THE EUROPEAN ALPS WILL RAISE FUNDING
FOR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
In September of 2007, an
international team of prostate cancer veterans, family members and supporters will
converge on the Chamonix Valley to climb Mt Blanc. This is the highest mountain
in continental Europe at 4807m / 15,772’.Their goal is to reach the summit,
raise critically needed funding for education and outreach programs and to
inspire men and their families with a message of hope. Prostate cancer will
affect one in five families in the United States and Europe and has reached
epidemic proportions.
Prior climbs have raised over
$400,000 USD for prostate cancer awareness and education programs. The first
expedition in 2000, known as the Hap
Weyman Memorial Prostate Cancer
Awareness Project climbed Mt Aconcagua in the Argentine Andes was spearheaded
by Dr Terry Weyman. Since then, annual climbs have included Mt Kilimanjaro,
Yosemite, the Colorado Rockies and El Misti in the Peruvian Andes.
The Prostate Awareness
Foundation, the non-profit organization sponsoring this year’s expedition, provides
men and their families with information about available treatment options both
conventional and alternative. It also offers guidance about preventative
measures, nutritional support and stress management techniques the object is to
help men and their families take a proactive approach to good prostate health. You
can get more information about the foundation at www.prostateawarenessfoundation.org.
Ken Malik is one of this year’s
expedition leaders. He is the co-founder of PAF and an eleven-year veteran of
prostate cancer. Ken hopes to encourage participation on this year’s expedition
both in the United States and internationally. Malik says, “This year’s
expedition will offer challenges on two levels. A climbing team will attempt a
technical climb to the summit. A trekking team that will do a hike on the Tour
de Mt Blanc through France, Italy and Switzerland and support the climbing
team. While on the expedition, all will share the latest information on
prostate health. Malik says we can learn a lot from each other about prevention
and treatment options”.
The expedition will be
arriving in the Chamonix Valley on September 8th and completes the
ascent of Mt Blanc on September 16th. You can contact Ken Malik at kamalik@sbcglobal.net for details and information
about how you can participate.