Editor’s note: The celebration of local philanthropy by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Mahoning-Shenango Chapter is set for Nov. 15 at Mr. Anthony’s Banquet Center in Boardman. The Business Journal is highlighting this year’s National Philanthropy Day honorees in a series of stories.
Outstanding Volunteer Fundraising Group: Man Up Mahoning Valley
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Raising money is important, but increasing prostate cancer awareness, prevention and detection are the overriding goals of Man Up Mahoning Valley, says Steve Burbrink, a member of the group’s committee, a support group facilitator and a two-time prostate cancer survivor.
Man Up Mahoning Valley was started in 2010 by a group of physicians that included by Dr. Dan Ricciutti, a local urologist, and the Mercy Health Foundation.
Ricciutti, who was Burbrink’s doctor when he was being treated in 2012, had been trying to reach out to men in the Mahoning Valley about the importance of screenings.
One of his efforts was a 5K run, which wasn’t reaching the right age demographic.
“It should have been men over 40 and a lot of the racers were young guys,” Burbrink says.
While Burbrink was in recovery, he and Ricciutti discussed him joining the committee and ways to connect to men. Burbrink, who worked at the General Motors Lordstown Complex at the time, suggested the possibility of doing a car show to raise awareness.
“That was around 2013 when that started,” Burbrink says.
The group followed up with events such as No Shave November and the Stand Up for Man Up comedy shows, as well as prostate cancer screenings at churches and community events.
Man Up Mahoning Valley has raised more than $205,000 since the group’s inception.
The emphasis is on raising awareness.
“Men hardly ever go to the doctor unless they really have to,” says Laura Boomhower, a community health educator with Mercy Health and community outreach liaison for Man Up Mahoning Valley. Also, they usually don’t request a PSA – prostate-specific antigen – blood draw and don’t want to have to go through the digital rectal exam used in screenings.
Caught early, men with prostate cancer have a 99% survival rate, Boomhower says.
“That is huge,” she says. “It’s so important to get checked early.”
Men should begin screenings at age 40 unless there is a family history of the disease, in which case they should begin at age 35, Burbrink says. Based on his history, he made his son get checked starting at 25.
Black men are at greater risk of dying from prostate cancer because of heredity and because they get checked at lower rates.
“We’re trying to change the stigma of our generation and the younger generation,” Burbrink says. Previous generations didn’t discuss health problems or go to doctors because they were perceived as signs of weakness.
Burbrink says he didn’t find out about his grandfather’s cancer until he was in recovery for his own.
The way he explains it to members of his support group is they want to be around for their children and grandchildren. “You have to think about your family and why you want to go to the doctor on a regular basis,” he says. “I’ve learned that lesson as I’ve gotten older and survived it twice.”
Pictured at top: Steve Burbrink and Laura Boomhower, Man Up Mahoning Valley