RACE INFORMATION:

History of Unite 2 Fight: Race Against Prostate Cancer

At the height of his success, former president of Indiana Black Expo, Reverend Charles Williams, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. In an effort save the lives of father's, husbands and brothers, he along with numerous community leaders launched an unprecedented educational campaign about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection. Since his diagnosis in 2002 and his untimely passing in July, 2004, hundreds of men have received the life saving PSA test and his legacy is experienced across the state of Indiana through the Reverend Charles Williams Prostate Cancer Mobile Unit, the second of it's kind on the nation.

Unite 2 Fight: Race Against Prostate Cancer was the vision of Reverend Charles Williams. It was his dream to create a event to build awareness of this common cancer amongst men which rivaled events designed to elevate awareness for breast cancer in women. Together, all people, all races, all genders, all socio-economic levels, united together - fighting as one.

Unite 2 Fight : Race Against Prostate Cancer is in its sixth year, and is the largest race event for prostate cancer in Central Indiana. At the 2005 Race, the Rev. Charles Williams Prostate Cancer Mobile Unit was unveiled, and went into immediate use, providing prostate cancer screenings to race participants. The first Race Against Prostate Cancer in 2003 drew more than 500 participants.

Since then, the race has brought together over 1,300 participants each year. In 2007, the attendance jumped to a record 2,013 participants, a 37% increase over the previous year, and set a previously-unheard-of record for individual donations at $47,000 (OVER 6 TIMES the previous year)! It's exciting to see the public get behind this growing event.

The Indiana Cancer Research Foundation and Little Red Door Cancer Agency are the beneficiaries of each year's Race. They both work closely together to put on the event each year. Prominent community leaders have been honorary chairs for the event, including Rev. Charles Williams, Mike Rodman, Tim Franson, and Dr. John Lechleiter. Also, a number of organizations partner and support Unite 2 Fight each year. Without these supporters, Unite 2 Fight would not be possible.