Press Release Summary: Girffey, Sr to chair the campaign that hopes to raise more than $250,000 a year for prostate cancer research through a marketing effort between Myrtle Golf Holiday, the Myrtle Beach golf community and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC).
Press Release Body: April 15, 2008, Myrtle Beach, S.C. - Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the National Prostate Cancer Coalition (NPCC) announced that former Cincinnati Red outfielder Ken Griffey, Sr. will serve as the honorary chairman of the "Know Your Score" campaign at an April 15th press conference. Griffey will help spread awareness about the importance of prostate cancer research and testing through national and regional interviews and by participating in "Know Your Score" events throughout the year.
The "Know Your Score" campaign was created by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the NPCC earlier in 2008 and will be an ongoing marketing effort between the two organizations in which the Myrtle Beach golf community intends to raise more than $250,000 each year for prostate cancer research. The "Know Your Score" campaign slogan refers to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test given to men 50 years of age or older to help detect prostate cancer. A low score on the PSA test is good news and is the best screening tool currently available when used with the physical prostate exam, according to the NPCC.
In April, 32 Myrtle Beach golf courses teamed up to raise more than $40,000 for the "Know Your Score" campaign through closest-to-the-pin contests held each Saturday. The closest-to-the-pin contests will be held again in October to continue the efforts to raise money for prostate cancer research.
In addition to his 19-year career in Major League Baseball, Griffey is also a prostate cancer survivor after a screening in 2006 discovered the disease in its early stages. Griffey also had six uncles who passed away after battling prostate cancer. In 2007, Griffey started the Ken Griffey Sr. Foundation to increase awareness of prostate cancer to cities across America and help at-risk youth in Orlando, where he now resides, by providing health and sports clinics.
A native of Donora, Pennsylvania, Griffey joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1973, and was an integral member of three World Series Championship squads. During his career, he also played for the New York Yankees, the Atlanta Braves and the Seattle Mariners. When Griffey joined his son, Ken Griffey, Jr., on the Mariner squad in 1989, the Griffey's became the first father-and-son teammates in major league baseball history. Griffey was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 2004, and is currently a scout and special consultant in the Cincinnati organization.
"This is a great opportunity for me, as a prostate cancer survivor, to partner with the National Prostate Cancer Coalition and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday in the high-profile 'Know Your Score' campaign," said Griffey. "My goal as the honorary chairman is to stress the importance of frequent screens for early detection of the disease and help raise money for further research. I hope to use my fame from 19 years in Major League Baseball and my personal experience with prostate cancer to spread the word to men across the United States."
In honor of the announcement, the NPCC brought their 40-foot "Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV" to the press conference at the Myrtle Beach PGA TOUR Superstore location and provided free prostate tests all day. This was the first stop by the "Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV" in the Myrtle Beach area and more than 200 men took advantage of the opportunity to be tested during the RV's eight-hour visit to the Grand Strand.
Launched in 2002, the "Drive Against Prostate Cancer Mobile Screening RV has made stops in more than 250 cities and has tested more than 65,000 men in six years. Now averaging 20,000 free screens per year through the RV, the same prostate cancer screen would cost approximately $200 if tested in a doctor's office or a clinic.
"Ken Griffey, Sr. is a baseball icon and we are honored he will be serving as the chairman of the 'Know Your Score' campaign to raise funds for prostate cancer early detection and research," said Jamie Bearse, Executive Vice President of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition. "We believe as a survivor of the disease, Griffey can convey to all men the importance of knowing the risks about prostate cancer and getting tested."
"We are excited to partner with the NPCC to launch the "Know Your Score" campaign and raise money for prostate cancer research," said Bill Golden, president of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday. "The entire Myrtle Beach golf community has united to make a long-term commitment to the NPCC and we believe that Ken Griffey, Sr. will be able to convince men of the importance of being tested early and often. We see more than one million golfers per year here in Myrtle Beach and we hope to reach many of these men who are the exact NPCC demographic."
Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday and the NPCC will make further announcements about the 2008 "Know Your Score" events in the near future. For more information on the campaign, visit GolfHoliday.com or call 1-800-833-8798.
Web Site: http://www.golfholiday.com
Contact Details: Erin Barrett Brandon Advertising ebarrett@brandonadvertising.com 3023 Church Street Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 843-916-2000
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