More than 500 men, women and children made history by attending the region’s first communitywide event to raise awareness of prostate cancer. In joining THE MAN RUN for Prostate Cancer Awareness, presented by SunTrust Bank, East Tennessee on Saturday, Sept. 6 in Knoxville, community members also helped raise money for prostate cancer education and prostate screenings by The University of Tennessee Medical Center’s Cancer Institute.

“I am so proud of all the families who came together and participated in THE MAN RUN to raise awareness of prostate cancer in our region,” said Renee Hawk, vice president of UT Medical Center’s Cancer Institute. “In addition to providing prostate cancer education and outreach, the medical center holds several free prostate screenings each year, and the proceeds from this event will help us significantly in that effort. I am very thankful for the support and help of our sponsors, our volunteers and all of the people who helped make this a tremendous event. We already are looking forward to next year’s The Man Run.”

According to Hawk, initial estimates place the total raised from the event at approximately $13,000. Organizers held THE MAN RUN, which included a 5K run and a one-mile fun walk/run, in September to coincide with National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Approximately 350 runners and walkers participated in the race while scores of volunteers and onlookers cheered on the participants.

“I extend a world of thanks to all those who helped make THE MAN RUN a great success,” said Jack Evans, chairman of THE MAN RUN, prostate cancer survivor and long-time volunteer at UT Medical Center. “We had so many people involved and we raised money for an extremely important cause. As prostate cancer impacts not only the men diagnosed with the disease but also their families. I’m especially touched in knowing that we succeeded in accomplishing our mission for THE MAN RUN: raising awareness of prostate cancer in our community and raising funds to provide prostate screenings that diagnose prostate cancer in its earliest and most curable stages.” Evans said he’s already talking with UT Medical Center and several volunteers from the community about planning for the 2009 THE MAN RUN.

As for the 2008 race, Stewart Ellington won the 5K with a time of 15:26, while Emily Mack, the first female finisher, crossed the finish line at 20:44. Louis Schumacher, the first prostate cancer survivor to finish the race, completed the course in a time of 23:27.

To learn more about prostate cancer, early detection and prevention, visit www.utmedicalcenter.org or call the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute’s Outreach and Education Department at 865.305.8577.