Each year over 230,000 new cases of Prostate Cancer are diagnosed and over 30,000 men die of prostate cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, in North Carolina alone over 6800 new cases will be diagnosed and approximately 900 men will die of prostate cancer this year. The number of prostate cancer deaths in the US could rise to 50,000 per year. This doesn’t have to happen!

The Men’s Golf Association (MGA) at Devils Ridge golf club recognizes that, if caught early through increased awareness, early detection and “best practices” treatment, prostate cancer survival rates are nearly 100%. The MGA joined the fight against prostate cancer in 2005 by hosting a Charity Golf Classic at Devils Ridge. This year they will host the fifth annual Devils Ridge Charity Golf Classic to fight Prostate Cancer on Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009. The tournament has raised over $115,000 in its first 4 years and the MGA has again chosen the Prostate Cancer Coalition of N.C. (PCCNC) to be the beneficiary of this tournament.

Prostate cancer is as serious a problem for men because in its early stages, tends not to have any symptoms. During prostate cancer's early silent stages, patients are effectively treated in 97% of cases. A patient diagnosed with prostate cancer after experiencing physically uncomfortable symptoms can be treated successfully in only about 30% of the cases. The facts are clear: early diagnosis increases chances of recovery dramatically.

Yet today only about 40% of men take the necessary screening tests. This is one reason why the MGA has again chosen PCCNC to be the beneficiary of its tournament. The PCCNC was founded in 2001 to focus on three goals: (1) raising awareness of prostate cancer; (2) promoting actions to battle this disease including screening tests for early detection; (3) coordinating efforts of the coalition statewide. It is staffed primarily by volunteers and is a not-for-profit organization with a goal of reducing the Prostate Cancer death rate in NC by 50% in 5 years.

According to Mary C. Anderson, Executive Director of the PCCNC, “This Charity Golf Classic has allowed us to carry prostate cancer activism throughout the state. Without the funds raised by this Devil’s Ridge MGA Tournament, we would not have been able to develop the broad-based knowledge, insight and resources that we have today, and many underserved areas of the state would not have access to critical information and resources.” For more information on Prostate Cancer and PCCNC see www.pccnc.org.

Cancer Centers of North Carolina (CCNC) is the Founding and Prime Sponsor of the Devils Ridge Charity Golf Classic for the fifth consecutive year. CCNC was established in 1979 by Dr. William Berry. Dr. Berry is himself a Prostate Cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001; he is now cancer-free and even now says that his diagnosis has been a blessing in the long run. “I know what it’s like; I know what the decision making process is like and I can share my experiences,” he says. CCNC is a comprehensive hematology and oncology practice consisting of 16 board-certified oncologists. Their range of advance treatment at 5 Triangle locations includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy and access to clinical trials. For more information please visit www.cancercentersofnc.com.

Additional sponsors at all levels are also very welcome. Information on these sponsor levels is available at a link on the Devils Ridge website (www.devilsridgecc.com). Or you may call David P Labrecque at 919-349-0711. All sponsor donations are 100% tax deductible.

The tournament will be held on September 23, 2009 in Holly Springs at the Devils Ridge Golf Club, one of the premier private clubs in the area. The $85 entry fee will entitle the participant to a continental breakfast, range balls, golf, cart, gift bag, beverages, and lunch and includes entry into hole-in-one contests, with the opportunity to win a new Automobile. The tournament will begin with sign-in and breakfast starting at 7:45 and a shotgun start at 9:00 AM. Format will be a scramble, with prizes for team low net scores in three different flights with total prize value being $1800. There will be prizes for other contests as well (i.e., closest to the pin; best drive). Individual (male & female), couple and foursome registrations will be accepted.

The field for the tournament is limited to 128 golfers and was sold out 3 weeks in advance in each of the preceding years, so the MGA recommends that interested golfers sign-up early this year. Registration forms and additional information are available online at www.devilsridgecc.com or by calling David P Labrecque at 919-349-0711..

Tickets are also available for great raffle prizes worth thousands of dollars including 2 night’s accommodations and 3 rounds of golf for two people at the Pinehurst Resort. Raffle tickets can be purchased in advance at the Devils Ridge Clubhouse, from any MGA member or by calling David P Labrecque at 919-349-0711.