Let it Snow? Let It Snow? Let It Snow?

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex (PCSWE)

February 2026 Communique

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4th, 2026 Doors Open @ 6:00 pm, Activities start @ 7:15 pm

WINDSOR POLICE vs WINDSOR FIREFIGHTERS

Nobody can explain this event better than the organizer, Jeff Casey, so please follow this link to hear all the details:

♫ The Battle of the Badges

Hopefully you’ve purchased your tickets already. If not, you can do so at the Play For A Cure website: (www.playforacure.ca/badges) We will be setting up and manning our awareness booth in the WFCU Centre Concourse, along with a number of other Windsor Community Activation Partners.  

As cancer survivors on World Cancer Day, what better way than this for all of us to show how thankful we are, by spreading the word about this event and purchasing a $20 ticket to attend.

PCSWE MEETING TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10th, 2026, 7pm

For our February meeting we are pleased to welcome Christina Dzieduszycki, PT Pelvic Floor Physio†herapist, Health Coach, and Speaker/Educator.

Moving from Kegels to HEgels: A New Approach to Men’s Pelvic Health

This presentation via Zoom introduces the HEgel™ Method, a practical and empowering approach to pelvic health for men preparing for or recovering from prostate cancer treatment. Many men are told to “just do Kegels,” yet continue to struggle with bladder control, sexual function, or confidence. This talk explains why that happens, and what can be done differently.

We’ll explore how the pelvic floor actually works, which muscles matter most, and how learning to activate the right muscles can improve continence, support erectile function, and help you feel more in control of your recovery. We’ll also discuss how pelvic health is influenced by whole-body strength, breathing, stress, and daily movement, not just pelvic floor muscle exercises (a.k.a Hegels).

This session introduces a 7-step, evidence-based framework offering clear, practical strategies you can begin using today with the support of a qualified pelvic floor therapist. It also empowers you to ask informed, meaningful questions when working with your healthcare team or pelvic health physiotherapist. The focus is on progress, not perfection, and on reminding you that recovery is possible and that you are not alone.

Bio

Christina Dzieduszycki is a Registered Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist and the founder and Clinical Director of Knew Life Physiotherapy in Ancaster, Ontario. She holds an Honours BA in Kinesiology from York University and an MSc in Physiotherapy from McMaster University, with additional training in applied clinical research and pelvic health. She continues to pursue advanced education through leading pelvic health and rehabilitation organizations in Canada, the U.S., and Australia.

With over 23 years of experience spanning personal training and physiotherapy, Christina specializes in pelvic health rehabilitation for men, women, and children, with a particular clinical focus on men recovering from prostate cancer treatment. She works closely with urologists and surgeons across the Greater Hamilton Area to provide individualized pre- and post-operative pelvic health care following prostatectomy, radiation therapy and ADT.

Christina is the creator of The Hegel Method™, a hybrid online, evidence-informed rehabilitation program for male pelvic health that moves beyond isolated exercises to support whole-body recovery, strength, and function. She is also the author of Moving from Kegels to HEgels.

Passionate about changing the conversation around men’s pelvic health, Christina is committed to reducing stigma, restoring dignity, and helping men reclaim continence, sexual function, resilience and confidence through care that is both evidence-based and deeply human.

Please join us Tuesday, February 10th @ 7 pm in person at Hospice of Windsor (6038 Empress St., Windsor – Front Building) or by Zoom at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

MEETINGS by OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS

The following summarizes meeting dates for London/Sarnia/Wallaceburg support groups that may be of interest. Check (www.pcsupportgroup.ca) for further details.

London Prostate Cancer Support Group

• When: Every first Wednesday of the month (excluding July and August)
• Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Location: UNIFOR Hall, 140 Pine Valley Blvd, London
• Dates: February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3

Sarnia Prostate Cancer Support Group

• When: Every second Tuesday of the month (excluding July and August)
• Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Location: Fairwinds Lodge Retirement Residence, 1218 Michigan Ave, Sarnia,
• Dates: February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9

Wallaceburg Prostate Cancer Support Group

• When: Every second Thursday of the month (excluding July and August)
• Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• Location: UAW Hall, 88 Elm Drive, Wallaceburg
• Dates: February 12, March 12, April 9, May 14, June 11

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)

Monthly Information – Please remember that PCFC does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their website; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals. 

Wednesday, November 12th, (new date) we welcome two research students, Jeffery Martin and Christian Kassa, from the University of Windsor (UofW).

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex (PCSWE)

November 2025 Communique

We had an excellent meeting in October that included a brief introduction by the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation on this month’s Grow-On Campaign.  Following that, Dr. Sorensen hosted an Open Forum question and answer session; this proved to be an excellent experience for all that we hope to replicate in the spring with a short briefing by the Motorcycle Ride for Dad organizers.

For our November meeting, we are looking forward to a fascinating presentation by two (2) research students from the University of Windsor (UofW).

Please note that the Hospice is closed on Tuesday 11 November due to Remembrance Day.  We will instead be meeting on WEDNESDAY 12 November.

WEDNESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2025 MEETING (Jeffery Martin and Christian Kassa)

Jeffery Martin

Christian Kassa

We are very pleased to introduce some highly intelligent youthful exuberance for our November meeting with a presentation by two (2) research students from UofW (Jeffery Martin and Christian Kassa).  They both work under Dr. Lisa Porter who has also previously presented to our group.

Jeffery Martin – Jeffery Martin is a second year Master’s student in Biological Sciences at UofW in Dr. Lisa Porter’s lab. He completed his undergraduate degree at UofW in Biomedical Sciences and Biochemistry and completed two undergraduate theses, one studying Glioblastoma and another studying Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Disease.  His current work in his Master’s degree now focuses on studying the progression of Prostate Cancer, using drugs to prevent the progression of disease, and developing new biomarkers to detect advanced Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.

Christian Kassa – Christian Kassa is a first-year Master’s student in Biological Sciences at UofW in Dr. Lisa Porter’s lab. Christian completed his undergraduate degree at UofW in Biomedical sciences and completed an undergraduate thesis studying Prostate Cancer.  Now as a Master’s student, Christian is continuing his work studying Prostate Cancer, focusing on testing novel therapeutics, and developing the use of non-invasive liquid biopsies for disease detection.

Presentation Synopsis – Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, affecting 76 men daily in Canada. While effective, the treatments for PC can sometimes pressure cells to transdifferentiate into a more aggressive, treatment resistant type of PC, known as neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).  Their lab has identified a class of cell cycle regulatory proteins elevated in NEPC, with evidence supporting that these proteins have the potential to drive progression to this drug-resistant form of disease.  This project aims to establish a PC to NEPC platform of disease progression to study the specific role of these regulatory proteins during PC trans-differentiation. Further, they will utilize drugs that can block these proteins and test whether these drugs can treat and/or prevent the progression of disease to NEPC.  Preventing the progression of disease to NEPC and identifying markers of NEPC remains one of the greatest challenges in this field, and they have strong rationale and data to support this being a promising direction that could make a meaningful impact.

ZOOM Link – Remember that our meetings are hybrid-ZOOM meetings; if you can’t make it to the Hospice, please join us remotely via ZOOM at this link

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

FUTURE PCSWE MEETINGS

The following summarizes the currently planned fall program:

• Tuesday 16 December – Christmas Spaghetti Dinner at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 594.  Please note that we will NOT be holding our normal meeting at the Hospice on Tuesday 9 December.

GROW ON WINDSOR CAMPAIGN

We have set up our team for this year’s Grow On campaign. You can check it out at the link below. Please consider adding your support, either by joining as a team member or making a donation or forwarding the team link to your contacts.

If you need help with any of that, just let Jim Fair know.

Our Team Link:

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex is raising money for Grow On Windsor

PETITION for FUNDED PSA TESTING in ONTARIO

Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates submitted a bill 28 October to have PSA testing funded by OHIP.   Unfortunately, the conservative government is objecting because they feel if they open PSA testing, they will have too many false positives.  The links below provide an update from the “PSA” event at Queens Park.

https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2025/10/28/opposition-parties-call-for-ontario-to-cover-psa-testing-for-men-to-detect-prostate-cancer

https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ndp-mpp-wayne-gates-calls-ohip-cover-prostate-cancer-screening-tests

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/opposition-parties-call-for-ontario-to-cover-psa-testing-for-men-to-detect-prostate-cancer

PRESENTATIONS of INTEREST by OTHER SUPPORT GROUPS

The following summarizes other upcoming presentations by other Ontario support groups that may be of interest:

From PCS London, Sarnia, Wallaceburg:
Just a quick reminder about our London Prostate Support Group meeting on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. We’ll be meeting at Unifor Regional Hall, 140 Pine Valley Blvd., London.

For the first part of our meeting, we’ll be listening in via Zoom to Doctor Philippe Violette, a Urologist from Woodstock. He’ll be presenting to the Trinity Catholic Church hosted by the Woodstock Knights of Columbus. Pierre Pinsonneault. Dr. Violette will be covering topics like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and more. Neil Langlois will also be sharing his journey. They will be connecting to our Zoom so we can listen in. Following this, we’ll have an open discussion.

Even if you aren’t from London, we’d still love for you to join us. For those unable to attend in person, we’ll be offering a Zoom option. Please find the Zoom link below.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Time: Nov 5, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85771323041?pwd=TLb8Tz8Sts4JMQ6kbNCeSZF8R6ubRx.1

From PCS Ottawa:

Ottawa (Thursday, 20 November 2025) – Dr. Anna Wilkinson Dr. Anna Wilkinson, a family physician at the Ottawa Hospital with a special interest in oncology, has received a $10,000 clinical grant from Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada to research how changes in PSA screening recommendations have impacted prostate cancer outcomes in Canada.  Details and registration can be seen at:

https://pcsottawa.ca/meetings-and-events/meeting/20-november-guest-speaker

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)Monthly Newsletter – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information that

October 14th, we welcomed local Urologist Dr. Ron Sorensen who hosted an open forum discussion on prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex (PCSWE)

September 2025 Communique

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone had a great Summer. 

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone is looking forward to a great
autumn.

TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2025 MEETING (Dr. Ron Sorensen)

Following a brief introduction by the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation on this
fall’s Grow On Campaign, Dr. Sorensen will be hosting an Open Forum question
and answer session.
Dr. Sorensen, an esteemed local urologist, who was instrumental in founding our
group several decades ago and for bringing the first DaVinci machine to Windsor.
He is a on your Steering Committee and has breathed fresh hope into our group
this past year and we hope to continue to enjoy his enthusiasm and energy.
Remember that our meetings are hybrid-ZOOM meetings; if you can’t make it to
the Hospice (6038 Empress St., Windsor), please join us remotely via ZOOM at this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

FUTURE FALL MEETINGS
The following summarizes the currently planned fall program:
 Tuesday 11 November – Jeffery Martin and Christian Kassa (Research
Students, Cancer & Cellular Biology @ Porter Lab Department of Biomedical
Sciences, UWindsor)
 Tuesday 16 December – Xmas Spaghetti Dinner at Legion 594. Please note
that we will NOT be holding our normal meeting at the Hospice on Tuesday
9 December.

OUTREACH EVENTS
The following summarizes outreach events:
 Kyle Horner Interview (AM 800 Radio) – On Saturday morning, 20
September, Kyle Horner interviewed Garry on his morning AM 800 Radio
program. Check out the interview through this podcast link:

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/962-live-and-local-on-am800-154902319/episode/garry-loeper-prostate-cancer-support-windsor-essex-295591842/

 Provincial Support Leaders’ ZOOM Meeting (1400 Friday 26 September
2025) – Garry participated
 Grow On Campaign – We look forward to participating in the upcoming
Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation Grow-On Campaign this fall. We will
provide you with more details as we draw closer.

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)
National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)
Monthly Newsletter – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca),
does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and
support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is
a mint of information that directly helps individuals.  The following is a link to
their latest monthly newsletter:

August 2025 Foundation Newsletter

September 9th, we welcomed Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal, Chief of the Department of Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH).

Prostate Cancer Support Windsor/Essex (PCSWE)

September 2025 Communique

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone had a great Summer.  We have been busy organizing the winter program and have some very interesting speakers lined up.  We look forward to seeing everyone again this fall either in person or via ZOOM.

TUESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER 2025 MEETING (Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal)

Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal presented to our group on Tuesday 9 September at the Windsor Hospice (6038 Empress Street, Windsor).  Dr. Kanjeekal is a hematologist-oncologist and Chief of the Department of Oncology at Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH).  She is also an Adjunct Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor and in the Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry (Windsor Campus).

The following is a synopsis of her prostate cancer related project.  Establishing a Biomarker Discovery Platform to Track Progression to Treatment Resistant Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer.  Prostate cancer (PC) is the most prevalent cancer among men in North America, with a significant challenge in advancing treatments for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and treatment-induced neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC).  While androgen-deprivation therapy and next-generation androgen receptor antagonists like enzalutamide have improved survival, resistance and progression to NEPC remain significant hurdles.  NEPC patients, who often face limited treatment options and poor survival rates, urgently need methods for early detection and more effective therapies.  By creating a platform for biomarker discovery, cell-free RNA (cfRNA) from blood samples will be analyzed to identify and characterize circulating tumour RNA (ctRNA) associated with NEPC. 

Remember that our meetings are hybrid-ZOOM meetings; if you can’t join us in person at Hospice, please join us remotely via ZOOM at the link below. All are welcome.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

FUTURE FALL MEETINGS

The following summarizes the currently planned fall program:

• Tuesday 14 October – Open forum question and answer session with Dr. Sorensen, a respected local urologist who is on your steering committee and founder of our organization;
• Tuesday 11 November – Jeffery Martin and Christian Kassa (Research Students, Cancer & Cellular Biology @ Porter Lab Department of Biomedical Sciences, UWindsor)
• December – Xmas Spaghetti Dinner at Legion 594, date TBD.

OUTREACH EVENTS

The following summarizes currently planned outreach events:

• Provincial Support Leaders’ ZOOM Meeting (1400 Friday 26 September 2025) – Garry will be participating
• Grow On Campaign – We look forward to participating in the upcoming Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation Grow-On Campaign this fall.  We will provide you with more details as we draw closer.

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)

Monthly Newsletter – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals.  The following is a link to their latest monthly newsletter:

August 2025 Foundation Newsletter

May 13th, Dr. Caroline Hamm (Medical Oncologist, Cancer Program, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH)) presented to our group.

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone had a great April and didn’t gorge too much on chocolate bunnies.  We continued our winter program with a great presentation in April by Dr. Colvin Springer, a Windsor based Radiological Oncologist.  We look forward to an upcoming presentation by Dr. Caroline Hamm in May and our spaghetti dinner get-together at Legion Branch 594 in June. 

TUESDAY 13 MAY 2025 MEETING

We are planning to have Dr. Caroline Hamm (Medical Oncologist, Cancer Program, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH)) present to our group.  Dr. Hamm is an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at Western University.  She is the Chair of the Windsor Division Oncology at Schulich School of Medicine and the Chair of WRH Academic and Research Committee, fostering academic excellence in the Windsor Essex region. She founded and leads the Clinical Trials Navigator program since inception, working with national partners to improve patient access to clinical trials including Prostate Cancer patients.  Dr. Hamm will discuss the Clinical Trials Navigator, and how we work, our successes to date; and review the prostate clinical trials available in Ontario, Canada and National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda Maryland.

The meeting is planned for 7pm on Tuesday 13 May at the Windsor Hospice Auditorium (6038 Empress St.)  You can also attend remotely via ZOOM; please use the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

Play For A Cure (Friday 9 May 2025) –

This year’s Play For A Cure Tournament will be held on Friday, May 9th at Vollmer Recreation Centre, LaSalle. Thanks to all who participated in last year’s event. It was another tremendous success, raising over $400,000 for local cancer research. It was also a great opportunity for us to promote awareness of our group, and get our message of “Get Checked” across to a key demographic for us. Event organizers are always very appreciative of our involvement.

Thanks to those who have already offered to help this year.

This year, Play for a Cure – Pro-Am Hockey Tournament, will also host a Cancer Research Symposium prior to the beginning of the event.

This Play for a Cure sponsored Symposium will focus on the state of Cancer Research and will provide an opportunity to hear directly from experts who are leading the fight against cancer – locally, nationally and around the world.  This 1.5 hour Cancer Research Symposium will be held at Caesars Windsor in the Augustus Room on Thursday May 8th at 2:30pm.

It will feature the following:

Jennifer Jones, Past President of Rotary International, and currently serving as a Trustee on Rotary International’s Rotary Foundation.

Dr. Andre Veillette, Executive Director of Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network, will discuss the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centre Network arrival in Windsor.

A panel discussion focusing on cancer research projects and care in Windsor.

For more information and/or to register, Ctrl +Click on this link:

Symposium Event Registrationplayforacure.ca

Please feel free to share this information with anyone you think might be interested in attending.

YOUR FEEDBACK ON OUR MONTHLY COMMUNIQUE FORMAT

As you are aware, we send out monthly communiques to update everyone on upcoming meetings and events.  We also forward a link and summary of the monthly National Group Newsletters.  We don’t always get the National Group Newsletters in time for our communiques and we also know that many of you already signed up to receive them.  We would like hear your comments on the format and content of our monthly communiques including whether you like the summary of the National Group’s Newsletters.

EVENTS REQUIRING VOLUNTEERS

Thank-you to all of you have volunteered for the Hospice Dove Pin Fundraising Campaign (24 to 27 April), upcoming Play for a Cure event (Friday 9 May), and the Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) Golf Tournament (Wednesday 21 May).

Motorcycle Ride for Dad (Sunday 25 May)

We will need as many folks as possible for the Motorcycle Ride for Dad on Sunday 25 May 2025.  The primary effort is in the morning to help register hundreds of participants and direct motorcycle traffic.  After the main “launch” of motorcycles, most volunteers can go home.  There will be a need for a handful of volunteers at the “finish line.”

The “launch” is from 7am to 10am at Thunder Road Harley Davidson (2100 Ambassador Dr).  If you’re volunteering, please try be there at 6:30 am and park at the Williams Food.

The “finish line” will be at the Bourbon Tap and Grill in Belle River (405 Notre Dame St).  We ask volunteers to head over for around 11:30 before the riders arrive.  If you are volunteering, please bring a folding chair.

FUTURE MONTHLY MEETINGS

Tuesday 10 June 2025 Spaghetti Get-Together – The Tuesday 10 June 2025 meeting will NOT be held at the Hospice, but we will instead have a Spring Get-Together at Legion 594 (Howard Ave.) starting at 5:00 pm.  As with our Xmas get-together, this will coincide with that Legion’s bi-weekly $10 all you-can-eat spaghetti dinner; in the past, this has proven to be a very successful and affordable.

OUTREACH EVENTS

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada Father’s Day Walk/Run (June 15th, 2025) – This annual PCFC fundraising campaign is very important to us since the National Group provides immeasurable support to us. Simply put, we could not operate without their help and support. In addition, we get up to 50% equivalent return on money our members raise or donate.

Please join our PCS Windsor/Essex Team and/or donate to show your support at this link:

Register | Father’s Day WalkRun

OTHER NEWS

NATIONAL GROUP – PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)

National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)

Monthly Newsletter – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country.   We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals.  The following is a link to their latest monthly newsletter:

April 2025 Support Group Newsletter

April 8th, Dr. Colvin Springer, a Radiation Oncologist at Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, presented to our group. Dr. Springer is a graduate of University of the West Indies (BSc. 1985), University of Michigan (MSc. 1991 Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis) as well Queen’s University, (MBA 2003).

From your Steering Committee, we hope everyone had a great March and didn’t indulge too much in green beverages, “special” coffees, corned beef, and cabbage. We continued our Winter program with a great presentation in March by Dr. Ryan McLarty, a Windsor-based Urologist, and we look forward to other upcoming presentations by medical and other specialists.

Tuesday April 8th, 2025 Support Group Meeting – Dr. Colvin Springer (Windsor Radiation Oncologist)

Dr. Springer, a Radiation Oncologist at Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, is a graduate of University of the West Indies (BSc. 1985), University of Michigan (MSc. 1991 Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis) as well Queen’s University, (MBA 2003). He will be presenting, Prostate Cancer Prevention in the Black Community: Fostering Culturally Competent Care to gain a better understanding to:

Appreciate the higher prevalence and severity of Prostate cancer among Black men

Recognize the risk factors that make Black men more likely to develop prostate cancer

Understand prostate cancer screening guidelines for high-risk groups

Identify appropriate patient and physician resources for awareness, screening, and detection

The meeting is planned for 7pm on Tuesday April 8th at the Windsor Hospice Auditorium (6038 Empress St.).

Everyone is also welcome to attend remotely via ZOOM using the following link Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6953623178

We would like to give special thanks to Brian Robinson who volunteered his time to set-up and man our awareness booth at the Kingsville Seniors Expo on Wednesday 5 March 2025. These opportunities are very important for us. The organizers were very thankful for our participation and we were able to get our awareness brochures out to the community.

Springtime is our busiest time of the year with multiple outreach events requiring volunteers for events such as Play For A Cure and Motorcycle Ride For Dad. All of these events are very critical as they help advance our cause including spreading the word of our existence to those diagnosed and advocating early PSA testing. If possible, please look at the list of events below and help out by volunteering. In most cases you are treated to a meal or two and these are also great social opportunities with the community. Organizers always praise us for our involvement and our members have always found helping to be very rewarding.

FUTURE MONTHLY MEETINGS

Tuesday 13 May 2025 Meeting – We are planning to have Dr. Caroline Hamm (Medical Oncologist, Cancer Program, Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH)) present to our group. Dr. Hamm is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology at Western University as well as Chair of the Windsor Division Oncology at Schulich School of Medicine and Chair of WRH Academic and Research Committee, fostering academic excellence in the Windsor Essex region. She founded and leads the Clinical Trials Navigator program since inception, working with national partners to improve patient access to clinical trials including Prostate Cancer patients.

Tuesday 10 June 2025 Meeting – We will likely have a Spaghetti Dinner at Legion Branch 594 as we have done in the past before we break for the summer.

OUTREACH EVENTS

WE-SPARK Health Research Conference (Saturday 22 March 2025) – Garry and Jim attended. WE-SPARK Health Institute is an innovative partnership between Erie Shores HealthCare,
St. Clair College, University of Windsor and Hôtel-Dieu Grace Windsor Regional Hospital, that brings together health research strengths, expertise, and infrastructure from across the Windsor-Essex region. This event, which included research related to Prostate Cancer, aimed to showcase, connect, and strengthen health research excellence.

National Group Annual General Meeting (Wednesday 26 March 2025) – Garry attended the Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada (PCFC) Annual General Meeting.
National Group Townhall Meeting (Saturday 5 April 2025) – Garry will attend. This town hall event is for support group leaders to interact with PCFC Board members and have questions regarding support groups answered.

Hospice Dove Pin Campaign (Thursday 24 April to Sunday 27 April) – The Hospice is a wonderful organization and they let us use their facility for free. They always appreciate our members volunteering a few hours of their time to participate in their annual fundraising campaign. If you are able to volunteer, please let us know or you can call the Hospice directly at (519) 974-7100. You can also volunteer on-line at the following link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0944ACAF22A4FAC43-46291245-3rdannual#/

If you are volunteering, please let us know.

Play For A Cure (Friday 9 May 2025) –

This year’s Play For A Cure Tournament will be held on Friday, May 9th at Vollmer Recreation Centre, LaSalle. Thanks to all who participated in last year’s event. It was another tremendous success, raising over $400,000 for local cancer research. It was also a great opportunity for us to promote awareness of our group, and get our message of “Get Checked” across to a key demographic for us. Event organizers are always very appreciative of our involvement.

Thanks to those who have already offered to help this year. If you are able to volunteer some of your time to the event this year, please let us know by Friday April 4th. We need volunteers from 8:00am to 4:00pm. If you can only be there for the morning or afternoon shift, please indicate which one.

Thanks! Jim Fair 519-890-8525

For more information on this year’s event, call me, or check out the Play for a Cure Website:

Play for a Cure – Pro-Am will be a unique opportunity for hockey fans alike to play along side and against some of the stars they grew up watching on TV.

Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation Dr. Richard Boyd Men’s Health Program Golf Tournament (Wednesday 21 May 2025) – We will need 12 volunteers over two 2-hour shifts as follows:

Hole-in-one Contests – 2 holes. 
We will need 2 volunteers per hole, per shift.
Total of 8 volunteers

Beat the Pro Contest
We will need 2 volunteers for this, per shift.
Total 4 volunteers

Thanks to those who have already volunteered. If interested in helping out, please let us know as soon as possible.

Motorcycle-Ride-for-Dad (Sunday 25 May 2025) – Details to follow. The primary effort is in the morning to help register hundreds of participants and direct motorcycle traffic. Those who stay to help out at the “finish line” are treated to a meal. Like the above campaigns, all funds remain local in the Windsor area.

Presentation to Canterbury Elder College (Thursday 5 June 2025) – Garry will be presenting to the Canterbury Elder College

Prostate Cancer Foundation Canada Father’s Day Walk/Run (June 15th, 2025) – This annual PCFC fundraising campaign is very important to us since the National Group provides immeasurable support to us. Simply put, we could not operate without their help and support. In addition, we get up to 50% equivalent return on money our members raise or donate.

Please join our PCS Windsor/Essex Team and/or donate to show your support at this link:

Register | Father’s Day WalkRun

OTHER NEWS

PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION CANADA (PCFC)
National Group Website (www.prostatecanada.ca)
Monthly Debrief – Please remember that PCFC (www.prostatecanada.ca), does an amazing job and provides significant valuable support to our group and support groups across the country. We encourage you to visit their web-site; it is a mint of information that directly helps individuals. The following is a link to their latest monthly newsletter:

February 2025 Support Group Newsletter

The following is a summary of the newsletter highlights; please see the newsletter for further details:

 Researchers at Nova Scotia Health are seeking participants to share their experiences living with metastatic cancer who have received either targeted therapy or immunotherapy.

 Have you been interested in leading a nationwide support group? Our Advanced Prostate
Cancer Support Group meets monthly, and we are seeking a compassionate and dedicated
individual to help foster a supportive community. Austin and Nitasha from Support Services will
be there to guide you throughout the journey.

 A new study led by Dr. Richard Wassersug is gathering patient opinions on alternative Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) options. If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, take this quick, anonymous survey to help improve future treatments.

 Butts in Motion is a weekly yoga program focused on mindful breathing, mobility, stability, and strength in a supportive and rejuvenating practice