Sandy Springs’ run4DAD puts prostate cancer in spotlight

The real “winners” in the run4DAD are those men who hear its message about the importance of being screened early for prostate cancer and respond positively to it.

The 10th annual event is scheduled for June 15, the day before Father’s Day, at 8 a.m. at the Home Depot/Costco parking lot, 6400 Peachtree Dunwoody Road in Sandy Springs.

Proceeds benefit ProstAware, an Atlanta-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting awareness and education about prostate cancer while supporting programs for prostate cancer survivors.

Dr. Scott Miller, ProstAware’s founder, a urologist and medical director of robotic surgery at WellStar North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, is the event’s organizer. run4DAD includes a 5K run that’s a Peachtree Road Race qualifier, a one-mile walk and a kids4DAD short run for children 9 and each participant will receive a cape.

“(It) offers something for everyone,” Miller said.

run4DAD will be held rain or shine. Registration fees are $35 for general admission and $20 for prostate cancer survivors for the 5K, $20 for the one-mile walk, $15 for kids4DAD and $35 for snooze4DAD. Snooze4DAD registration allows participants to stay home and sleep in, but still support the cause and receive a race shirt.

Online registration ends June 13 at noon, but participants can register at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Dunwoody June 13 from 4 to 8 p.m. or on race day starting at 7 a.m. The 5K starts at 8 a.m., the one-mile walk begins at 8:15 a.m., the kids4DAD commences at 8:45 a.m. and the awards ceremony starts at 9 a.m.

Crash Clark of 11Alive is the emcee, and prizes will be awarded to winners in multiple age brackets. Race shirts and refreshments will also be provided for all registered participants.

“Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men,” Miller said. “Participating in run4DAD helps strengthen the lives of men and what better time to do this than Father’s Day weekend?”

Early screening is a necessity because prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of death in men, and it doesn’t have any symptoms until it becomes difficult to treat, he said.

“If caught early, prostate cancer is 98% curable but if caught late, that drops down to only a 28% cure rate,” Miller said.
Larry Stoumen, who has taken part in the race for five years, can well attest to that. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago.

“I did not have any symptoms, and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer during a routine physical and Dr. Miller was my doctor,” he said. “This race became much more personal for me after I was diagnosed and had surgery, which I am very open about. I try to encourage my friends to get physicals, but doctors tell me men are bad about visiting their doctor.”

Since his diagnosis, Stoumen has had four post-surgery checkups and his cancer has not returned.

For more information or to register, visit www.run4dad.org.