decorative background image

The City That Built America

Two women wearing memorial shirts sign a remembrance banner for ZERO

There’s no place better to forge a national community galvanized to end prostate cancer than the city that built America: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania—a steel town that built over a 1,000 WWII ships. In the nearby suburbs of Reading, PA, Mark Hawley also loved to make things grow. It’s what drove him to give more than 20 years of his life to horticulture and raise a family of seven amazing kids. And when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he wanted to see the movement against prostate cancer take root like it has for breast cancer.

Mark fought his disease valiantly and his spirits were lifted when he learned of the ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk in Lehigh Valley. He practiced and built up his strength to prepare for the one-mile walk, but cancer took him even while his two youngest children were still in high school. His wife Christine and their seven kids stepped up and formed Team Chemosabes to fight for guys like Mark – a remarkable man with a big smile and perfect jokes who pursued inspiring hobbies like flying airplanes and slapping the bass guitar.

Mark’s story moves me to be a better man for my family, for the organization I’m a part of, and for me. This morning, I got up and ran for Mark. We’re honored to have champions like the Hawleys as part of the ZERO family. If you’re fighting this battle, you’re not alone. If you’ve lost someone close to you, you have a home in ZERO. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and we can keep families together, but I need you and your family to fight alongside mine, alongside the Hawleys, to make zero prostate cancer a reality.

Contributor

Sharply dressed man in a blue suit with a checkered button up shirt next to a brick wall
Jamie Bearse, Past President

Past President of ZERO Cancer between 2002-2023, Jamie was instrumental as a leader, mentor, advocate, and champion for the families we serve.

Share