Breaking Barriers: How One Volunteer's Journey is Transforming Prostate Cancer Advocacy

As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month and Minority Health Month this April, we're spotlighting the extraordinary individuals who dedicate time and energy to making a difference in the fight against prostate cancer. One volunteer in particular embodies the powerful intersection of these important observances: Major Darnell Shaw, whose personal journey with prostate cancer has evolved into a mission of advocacy and awareness, particularly for African American men who face disproportionate risks from this disease.

Supporting Our Mission: Volunteer Power

Volunteerism forms the foundation of everything we accomplish at ZERO Prostate Cancer. Volunteers are the catalysts who help us raise awareness, fund critical research, and ensure that men and their families receive the support they need during their cancer journey.

Through the dedication of volunteers like Darnell, we’ve been able to make a real, measurable impact:

• Education and Awareness: Our volunteers help reach thousands of men who might otherwise remain uninformed about prostate cancer risks and the importance of early screening. They distribute educational materials and engage with communities to ensure men have the knowledge they need to take proactive health measures.
• Advocacy and Policy Change: Volunteers are instrumental in our advocacy work, helping push for better healthcare policies and ensuring prostate cancer remains a priority on the national stage. By engaging with lawmakers and advocating for research funding, they help shape a future where prostate cancer is no longer a threat.
• Support Systems: Perhaps most importantly, volunteers create vital support networks for men and families affected by prostate cancer. From offering a compassionate ear to connecting families with resources and services, they ensure no one faces this journey alone.

Darnell's Story: From Diagnosis to Advocacy

Major Darnell Shaw joined ZERO Prostate Cancer as an advocate after his own personal battle with prostate cancer, along with witnessing his brothers' journeys with the disease. His experience fueled a passionate commitment to educate others and bring global awareness to prostate cancer, particularly within the African American community.

Darnell's advocacy journey began at his first ZERO Prostate Advocacy Summit in February 2025, where he immediately made his presence known. Standing up with conviction, he declared, "It's personal, and I can't stand it!" His powerful introduction as "a sacrifice for the cause" and a "true cancer ambassador" captured everyone's attention and set the stage for his impactful advocacy work.

What makes Darnell's story particularly significant during Minority Health Month is his focus on addressing the alarming health disparities that exist in prostate cancer. African American men face a 1.7 times higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and are 2.1 times more likely to die from the disease compared to their white counterparts. These statistics aren't just numbers to Darnell—they represent fathers, brothers, sons, and friends whose lives are at stake.

Finding His Voice: Peeling Back the Onion

Through his personal journey—from pre-cancer to diagnosis to recovery—Darnell discovered there was no roadmap to follow. He found himself fighting not only cancer but also deeply ingrained cultural stigmas around male vulnerability, the pressure to show no weakness, and the tendency to hide emotions from others.

This realization inspired him to write Peeling Back the Onion on Prostate Cancer, a candid reflection of his personal journey that recounts the physical, mental, and sexual challenges he faced along the way. The book provides a wealth of knowledge, practical advice, and several health resources, including guides for tracking digital rectal exams (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results—tools that all men need for yearly exams.

Darnell believes in the importance of early screenings since prostate cancer is 97% curable if found early. His mission is to touch as many men, especially African American men, as possible through his advocacy work and personal story.

Taking the Fight on the Road

What makes Darnell's volunteerism effective is his willingness to meet men where they are—literally. He decided that enough is enough with prostate cancer and let go of his pride, and took the fight on the road, spreading the good news about his prostate health journey.

His approach is uniquely personal and effective. Darnell builds relationships first rather than leading with medical statistics or clinical information. He starts conversations about sports, cars, life, or simply offers a friendly greeting. As the connection develops naturally, he shares his cancer story with authenticity and vulnerability that resonates with men who might otherwise avoid such discussions.

This individualized approach has allowed Darnell to reach countless men who might never have sought information about prostate cancer through traditional channels. By creating a safe space for men to feel supported and encouraged, he's breaking down the barriers that often prevent men, particularly African American men, from seeking early screening and treatment.

The Intersection of Volunteer Month and Minority Health Month

April's dual recognition of Volunteer Appreciation Month and Minority Health Month provides the perfect opportunity to highlight how volunteers like Darnell address critical health disparities in our communities.

At ZERO Prostate Cancer, volunteers extend our reach in ways that paid staff alone cannot achieve:

1. Community Connection: Volunteers have authentic connections within their communities, allowing them to reach people skeptical of traditional healthcare messaging.
2. Cultural Competence: Volunteers from diverse backgrounds bring cultural understanding that helps tailor outreach efforts to specific communities, addressing unique barriers and concerns.
3. Personal Testimony: When volunteers share their own cancer journeys, they create powerful connections that statistics and medical information alone cannot achieve.
4. Resource Multiplication: Volunteers help stretch limited resources, allowing organizations to reach more people with life-saving information and support.

During Minority Health Month, we recognize that addressing health disparities requires more than awareness—it requires action. Volunteers are taking that action, working tirelessly to ensure that all men, regardless of race or background, have access to the information, screening, and support they need.

The Mutual Benefits of Volunteering

Like many volunteers, Darnell has discovered that volunteering isn't just about giving—it's also about what you receive in return. Volunteering provides countless personal benefits:

1. Finding Purpose in Pain: For cancer survivors, volunteering transforms a challenging personal experience into something meaningful that helps others.
2. Building New Skills: Through advocacy work, Darnell has developed public speaking abilities, learned to navigate policy discussions, and honed his storytelling skills.
3. Expanding Networks: Volunteering has connected Darnell with a community of advocates, survivors, healthcare professionals, and policymakers who share his passion.
4. Healing Through Helping: Many volunteers find that helping others through challenges they've faced themselves is an important part of their own healing journey.
5. Creating Legacy: Through his book and advocacy work, Darnell is making a lasting impact that will continue to help men long into the future.

As Darnell himself might say, it's all about family. As a 13-year cancer survivor, he's in this fight for the long haul, guided by his personal motto: "Because health is wealth!"

Why Volunteerism Matters to Our Mission

Volunteerism is more than just extra hands helping with tasks—it's the heart of everything we do at ZERO. Volunteers bring passion, personal connection, and authentic voices to our work in ways that amplify our impact exponentially.

When we talk about making a difference, it's not just about checking off tasks—it's about building a community of people who believe in the same mission. Volunteers give their time, skills, and energy to help us advance in the fight against prostate cancer.

Volunteers help us:

• Raise Awareness: By sharing their stories and knowledge, volunteers educate others on the importance of early detection, the risks of prostate cancer, and ways to get involved in the cause.
• Engage Communities: Whether hosting events, speaking at local gatherings, or creating social media content, volunteers amplify our message and reach people who might otherwise never hear about prostate cancer risks and resources.
• Drive Policy Change: Volunteers help us reach out to legislators, participate in lobbying efforts, and ensure that the voices of those affected by prostate cancer are heard by decision-makers.
• Provide Peer Support: Nothing compares to the comfort of speaking with someone who has walked the same path. Volunteer survivors offer understanding and guidance that professional support alone cannot provide.

As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Month and Minority Health Month, we're reminded of the power of individuals to create meaningful change. Volunteers like Darnell Shaw demonstrate how personal passion and dedicated action can transform individual lives and entire communities.

By volunteering, you're not just supporting an organization—you're helping to change lives, raise awareness, and drive the research that will end prostate cancer once and for all. Let's continue to stand together and work toward a world where prostate cancer no longer takes the lives of the men we love.

Your contribution matters whether you have hours to give each week or just a few hours a month. Join us in this critical work, and together, we can create a future where prostate cancer is no longer a threat.