Industry stepping up again for prostate cancer awareness

June is the month when we honor our fathers.

We give gifts, have barbecues, go to dinner and enjoy our family. There is another great thing we can do for our dads that doesn’t cost anything. Let them know how important they are to us. Let them know we appreciate all they have done to guide us in life. And, finally, ask them to make sure they get tested for prostate cancer.

Pros4Care was started more than five years ago with that simple purpose. Propane Professionals Promoting Prostate health is our organization. Our goal and mission has been to advocate early testing through awareness in addition to raising funds annually to donate to the research being done by the Prostate Cancer Foundation. One in six men will develop the disease. Testing and early detection are the key. My dad got diagnosed two years ago, at 70 years old. He was fortunate that he had been getting checked regularly and had radiation seed implant treatment. Two years later, the cancer is undetectable.

Since 2007, we have raised more than $100,000 for research. This is in the form of donations, annual golf event dollars that are matched by Safeway dollar for dollar and other fund-raising methods. The propane industry has stepped up in many ways. Our sponsors for the golf event donated time and money to these events. The Texas Propane Gas Association undoubtedly has been a tremendous part of our success by completely managing our golf events to date. Our championship trophy is named in honor of Mr. Bill McHenry, former NPGA president and industry gentleman who succumbed to prostate cancer.

We have had several celebrities help us in raising funds and participating in events. We have been fortunate to team up with Major League Baseball and have enjoyed the company of such greats as Art Howe, Kevin Millwood, Jack Lazarko, John Matlick, Brad Lincoln, Tom Grieve and many others.

With June being such an important month, we have decided to team up with LP Gas Magazine and have our fifth-year event in conjunction with the LP Gas annual golf tournament on June 14-17 at the Reunion Resort and Club in Orlando, Fla.

There is no better way to celebrate Father’s Day than to play a few rounds of golf with your dad, brother, uncle or anyone else close to you who needs to be aware of the aspects of prostate cancer. In addition, the Reunion Resort is a great family place that has a water park and restaurants, and is minutes from Disney World and all of the other Orlando attractions.

I would ask to seriously consider the trip for a good cause and to take a break and celebrate your family at this event. And by the way, get yourself checked.

Ed Varney is the founder of Pros4Care and an industry management veteran of 22 years. He is a former vice president of Heritage Propane and also formerly of Emerson and AmeriGas. He lives in the Dallas area and can be reached at bostoned@sbcglobal.net. For more information about the LP Gas golf outing, visit www.propanegolfers.com.