LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 18, 2020 – The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and actress Kristen Bell announced today, the winners of the 3rd Annual TRUE Love Contest that honors caregivers and supporters of prostate cancer patients. From more than a hundred inspirational stories, Bell chose two heartfelt stories – one submitted by Angie Wilfong of San Antonio, Texas, and the other from Lucy Hayes of Gold Bar, Washington. The winners will be featured on PCF’s website and social media channels with both winners receiving “caregiver packages,” personally curated by Bell, including products provided by online-shopping destination, Verishop. The TRUE Love campaign provides those who have been affected by prostate cancer an outlet to express their affection for a loved one or show appreciation to their caregiver while helping raise awareness about the impacts of this disease.
“Caregivers and family support are an essential part of a prostate cancer patient’s recovery,” said Bell. “For the demanding work they do, a caregiver’s role is sometimes unrecognized. The TRUE Love contest provides an opportunity for patients or their loved ones to express their deepest gratitude for recognizing their tireless work and supported care for patients. It is a privilege to work with PCF in honoring these unsung heroes.”
2020 TRUE Winners:
- Angie Wilfong wrote about her hard-working father, Angel who migrated his family to the U.S. from Mexico in 1992. Angel has always been the most reliable and responsible person in Angie’s life. From the day when she was informed of her father’s diagnosis, she and her father have been inseparable. She moved her family from their home in San Antonio, Texas, into her parent’s house to care and support her father while he battled prostate cancer.
Excerpt: We were born and raised in Mexico and migrated to the United States in 1992 when my brothers who were twins born prematurely had to be airlifted to the U.S. because they had no chance of survival in Mexico. My Daddy worked really hard, literally, to obtain his citizenship and little by little help us obtain ours. …for anything that we have needed, any obstacle, my Daddy was always there. We live in San Antonio, Texas and right now my Daddy has weekly treatment appointments at MD Anderson in Houston. I have not missed any appointments because I want to make sure that he knows that we are in this together. I want to be there with him all the way no matter what, just like he was with us. View the complete story here.
- Lucy Hayes’ husband, Phil “lived in the dash.” Since his diagnosis of Stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer more than two years ago, he would respond, “Living in the dash!” when asked how he was doing. During a summer job trimming hedges around headstones at a memorial, he noticed three common things, but one thing particular stood out, a little dash that separated the birth and death indicating that life happens in that little dash.
Excerpt: For all of the different time periods represented among the thousands of headstones, ornate or simple, each had this just one little dash separating the year of birth and death. One small dash, no matter the length of life, male or female, physical appearance, heritage, fame, well-heeled or impoverished. The dash was the same. The difference then, was in how that life was lived! View the complete story here.
“We are grateful to Kristen for her continued support of PCF, the TRUE campaign and honoring the amazing work caregivers provide to prostate cancer patients,” said Christine Jones, COO, PCF. “Being a caregiver can be an extremely challenging and demanding job at times. That is why we are doing the critically needed work of respecting caregivers for their hard work in caring for prostate cancer patients.”
In addition, the online lifestyle shopping company Verishop will donate 20 percent of sales during the month of March from a special collection of products curated by Bell to the foundation. Available among Verishop’s online Tastemaker Shops, which are stores curated by fashionable influencers and experts, Bell’s special collection consists of fashion, beauty, wellness and home décor products, and can be found at www.verishop.com/tastemakers/kristen-bell.
All of the stories, including the winners can be found at www.pcf.org/true.
About Prostate Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, more than three million men in the U.S. are living with prostate cancer and more than 33,000 will die from the disease. One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. African American men are 76 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease.
About the Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world’s leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993 by Mike Milken, PCF has been responsible for raising more than $1 billion in support of cutting-edge research through more than 2,250 research projects at 245 leading cancer centers, with a global footprint spanning 28 countries. Since PCF’s inception, and through its efforts, patients around the world are living longer, suffering fewer complications, and enjoying better quality of life. PCF is committed to the mission of ending death and suffering from the disease.
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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kaleb Shorey
Prostate Cancer Foundation
(310) 570-4798
[email protected]
Donald Wilson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation
(310) 428-4730
[email protected]