#growMANkato
Donation protected
A grassroots effort to raise individual and community awareness of men’s health, with a focus on prostate & testicular cancer (the men’s cancers) that was organized in 2014. The efforts started in order to "bring the blue" to "where the pink is" with conversation between two local Greater Mankato, Minnesota men, testicular cancer survivor, Chris Harstad and prostate cancer survivor, Jonathan Zierdt.
Funds are being raised through the initiative to help support men going through treatment and their families gift cards to help ease everyday expenses such as gas and groceries. Often cancer puts people on paths they have never predicted, things that were once not a burden due to increased expenses or inability to work. growMANkato is working with local health care providers to get donations directly to those who are in need.
Social Media Information:
facebook.com/growMANkato | #growMANkato
About Chris Harstad:
Chris (35) was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2007 and shortly after had surgery to remove the cancer. After a year of monitoring, Chris was told that the cancer returned and had moved into his abdominal lymph nodes. About a year after his the original diagnosis he went through eight weeks of chemotherapy which successfully eradicated the cancer. Testicular cancer, if caught early, is 95% curable.
About Jonathan Zierdt:
Jonathan (48) was diagnosed with prostate cancer and kidney cancer in November 2013, and had three surgeries during the winter of 2014 to remove the mass on his kidney and a prostatectomy. At his June follow-up appointment, Jonathan was declared “NED” (no evidence of disease); however, three months later in September the prostate cancer (a highly aggressive form) had returned. He has just entered a new round of treatment for the next six months involving anti-hormone and radiation therapy.
Funds are being raised through the initiative to help support men going through treatment and their families gift cards to help ease everyday expenses such as gas and groceries. Often cancer puts people on paths they have never predicted, things that were once not a burden due to increased expenses or inability to work. growMANkato is working with local health care providers to get donations directly to those who are in need.
Social Media Information:
facebook.com/growMANkato | #growMANkato
About Chris Harstad:
Chris (35) was diagnosed with testicular cancer in October 2007 and shortly after had surgery to remove the cancer. After a year of monitoring, Chris was told that the cancer returned and had moved into his abdominal lymph nodes. About a year after his the original diagnosis he went through eight weeks of chemotherapy which successfully eradicated the cancer. Testicular cancer, if caught early, is 95% curable.
About Jonathan Zierdt:
Jonathan (48) was diagnosed with prostate cancer and kidney cancer in November 2013, and had three surgeries during the winter of 2014 to remove the mass on his kidney and a prostatectomy. At his June follow-up appointment, Jonathan was declared “NED” (no evidence of disease); however, three months later in September the prostate cancer (a highly aggressive form) had returned. He has just entered a new round of treatment for the next six months involving anti-hormone and radiation therapy.
Organizer and beneficiary
Christopher Harstad
Organizer
Mankato, MN
Chris Harstad
Beneficiary
