Our Mission:

The mission of the New Hampshire Prostate Cancer Coalition is the elimination or significant reduction of prostate cancer deaths in New Hampshire, thereby raising the quality of life for men and their loved ones.  We will accomplish this by promoting public awareness and education, by encouraging informed decision-making regarding detection, treatment, and support, and by partnering with the medical community in the state.

In the Spotlight!

John Sias, founder of our New Hampshire Prostate Cancer Coalition is highlighted in a profile by the American Cancer Society in New York: Click here for more: John Sias, Natural Spokesman

October 2008

• Fundraising Committee means business. Harry Purkhiser has volunteered to be chair. Members include Steve Ladew (secretary), Paul Mertzic, Jim McCormick, and Sal Magnano.  Committee will meet on the first and third Thursdays of every month at Catholic Medical Center “until further notice.”

• Chair Purkhiser showed the Board a three page data base. It identifies 35 N.H. organizations which annually provide millions to N.H. nonprofits. The data base includes for each organization the amount they donate, to whom they donate, dates to apply etc.

• Speakers Bureau moves ahead. In the last month, Jim McCormick spoke to Hudson Rotary, John Sias to Tilton-Northfield Rotary. In the next few weeks: Nov. 1, Men’s group at United Methodist Church in Nashua; and Franklin Rotary on Nov. 18. Rotary clubs in Merrimack, Peterborough, Nashua West, Lebanon, and Meredith have requested a speaker. Chair Don Davidson is assembling a kit of brochures, lapel pins and magnets for each speaker to bring to a meeting.

• Speakers include Don Davidson, Bob Dedrick, Dick Drisko, Harvey Keye, Steve Ladew, John Sias, and Chuck Wood.

• A “TRUE” prostrate cancer coalition. We aspire to be an organization through which everyone concerned with fighting prostate cancer in N.H. can work. We aim to be more than just a committee. We’re trying to identify all the types of groups that might want to work together.  

• Medical Advisory Group Chair Dr. John Heaney told the directors that he expects up to 10 physicians to join him in this group. John’s bio will be complete this week and will be posted on the Coalition web site.

• Bill Mullen reports that the Nashua PC Support Group will kick off its new program in January. Meeting this month to help this group were officials from St. Joseph Hospital, Southern N.H. Medical Center, American Cancer Society and two urological groups. Joe Mitchell will continue to be the facilitator.

• Events Committee under chair Bob Dedrick is already planning the 2009 Rally on the State House steps in September. Also looking into a possible Father’s Day event.

• Coalition’s Annual Report received many kudos from people both local, and 5,000 miles away in Hawaii.

• Directors viewed a 3-minute discussion on PC screening by Dr. Otis Brawley, president of the American Cancer Society. We’re looking into making this DVD available to others in the PC community.

• Anthem Insurance Co. will hold its Associates Giving Campaign on Oct. 29. We’ve been invited and we’ll be there to talk about PC and the Coalition.

• GlaxoKlineSmith officials met with Keene Director John Hansel to discuss a prostate cancer program.

• NH Cancer Plan funding faces a new challenge. Originally passed at $6 million, the Governor reduced it to $750,000 in a cost-cutting move. Even that amount is in jeopardy as the Governor seeks to cut additional millions to balance the state budget.

• Bob Dedrick and Bill Mullen have gathered 150 signatures on a Malecare petition addressed to the next president. Petition urges the president to equalize the federal research funding for both breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

• Health and Wellness Fair for Nashua city employees and teachers on Oct. 31 at the Senior Center. We’ll be there to discuss prostate cancer.

•  Advertising in our newsletter. A medical manufacturer has inquired…

• From Jerry Garcia. “Somebody has to do something, and it’s just incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.”