ProstAware’s Fifth Annual Blue Ties Event Raises More Than $25,000 for Prostate Cancer Awareness
October 17, 2013 (Atlanta) — More than 250 people enjoyed a keynote address by Toyota’s Chief Engineer of Product Development and the amusing stylings of 11Alive reporter and emcee Jerry Carnes at the fifth annual ProstAware Blue Ties event Sept. 27 at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. More than $25,000 was raised to support ProstAware’s mission of prostate cancer education.
Dr. Scott Miller, the founder of ProstAware and a urologic laparoscopist, also got in on the entertainment. He didn’t light anything on fire like he did at last year’s event, but he used several bags and balled-up pieces of paper (some of which were tossed dangerously close to attendees’ steak and shrimp) to illustrate the prevalence and disparity of prostate cancer in Georgia.
“ProstAware is established as the leading source of information concerning prostate cancer awareness in the Greater Atlanta area, a role we take very seriously,” said Dr. Miller. “But we also have fun doing what we do, as illustrated by my antics during Blue Ties and using music and technology to get through to men about prostate cancer. At the end of the day, we just want men and their families to be educated about the disease and make the best decisions for them.”
This year’s keynote address focused on technology. Randy Stephens, Chief Engineer of Product Development at the Toyota Research & Development Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, delivered a futuristic address that would make Knight Rider proud – “Next Generation Transportation – Driverless Cars and More.” It focused on Toyota’s commitment to pushing the envelope and creating cars that actively assist, and in some cases take over for, drivers in certain situations, including parking, braking, and more.
Appearing for the first time this year was the new ProstAware van — a fully loaded 2013 Toyota Sienna covered with a custom-designed ProstAware wrap. The van will make appearances around Atlanta between now and December, and will be given away to a lucky listener through a partnership with 97.1 FM The River. To learn more and find out how you can win the van, tune into 97.1 this December.
Looking ahead to ProstAware’s sixth year of educating men, Dr. Miller will continue to push PSA testing for men over 40 — still the most widely accepted position on prostate cancer screening. In addition to the van giveaway and media partnerships, ProstAware will also hold a music recording contest, in which people will have the opportunity to professionally record “Tell It Like It Is,” a song about what a patient might experience shortly after learning about their prostate cancer diagnosis that Dr. Miller wrote and recorded.
ProstAware (Prostate cancer awareness through music and technology) is a non-partisan non-profit dedicated to educating men in Metro Atlanta about prostate health and how everyone can participate in the battle against prostate cancer. ProstAware encourages men in Metro Atlanta to monitor their prostate health, provides a centralized resource for prostate cancer awareness, and promotes education and awareness through its annual Blue Ties event, local speaking engagements, and other Atlanta area health programs.
