Daughter Raises Prostate Cancer Awareness, Runs 5K in Memory of Father
More than 40 Participate to Celebrate Life, Raise Awareness

DENVER, CO, February 21, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For one woman, the Assurant Health That Dam Run is an opportunity to celebrate life and raise awareness of prostate cancer. Having lost her father to the disease a year and a half ago, Anne Franklin is running to remember. On Sunday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m., Franklin and more than 40 of her closest friends and family will celebrate her 40th birthday by joining a national effort to fight against prostate cancer by participating in the annual event. This race, which will take place at the Cherry Creek Dam, is part of the Prostate Cancer Education Council's (PCEC) national PACE Race Series, which helps to educate men and their families on the importance of early detection.

"Although prostate cancer is often treatable when caught early, it continues to take the lives of thousands of men each year. Having lost my father to the disease, I want to help educate others about the importance of early detection and screening," said Franklin.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American men. Estimates indicate that this year more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed in the United States, joining the more than two million men currently living with the disease, and nearly 28,700 will die from the disease. The second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer, prostate cancer is often treatable if detected early.

"One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of cancer death in men." said Wendy Poage, President, Prostate Cancer Education Council. "While we still don't know what causes prostate cancer, we do know that screening is the only way to detect prostate cancer while it is still in its most treatable stages. The PACE Race series is an opportunity to educate men about their risk for prostate cancer and encourage screening behavior that can ultimately save their lives."

That Dam Run is an opportunity for Coloradans to join Franklin in the fight against prostate cancer, with a 5K run/walk. At the race, participants can enjoy free food, an awards ceremony, survivor recognition and more. As part of its efforts to raise greater prostate cancer awareness in Denver, the PCEC will also provide information on prostate cancer.

"My family learned an important lesson about the value of annual prostate cancer screenings. In honoring my dad's life and his efforts to raise awareness of the disease, we hope others will be inspired to get checked," added Franklin.

The PACE Race Series - sponsored by sanofi-aventis to benefit the PCEC - was launched in 2002 to increase national awareness of prostate cancer. In addition to raising awareness, PACE Race events often include special recognition of survivors and caregivers, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood screenings, "Ask a Doctor" booths, along with entertainment, fun and giveaways.

The Assurant Health RunDenver Series of foot races, sponsored by Milwaukee, WI-based Assurant Health, a national provider of individual medical, small group and specialty health insurance, which included four races culminating in March at That Dam Run, marked the beginning of the 2009 PACE Race Series.

To learn more about prostate cancer, the PACE Race Series or PCEC, please visit www.prostateconditions.org or for more information on the Assurant Health RunDenver Series, please visit www.ahrundenver.com.

About the PACE Race Series
Men, women, families, friends and neighbors - at all fitness levels - are invited to participate in the PACE Race Series. This 5K run/walk series was launched in 2002 by the PCEC to increase awareness of prostate cancer and to educate men and their families on the importance of early detection. With events across the country, the PACE Race Series has the ability to touch men and women of all walks of life. For more information, please visit www.pacerace.org.

About the Prostate Cancer Education Council
A national organization committed to men's health, the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) is dedicated to saving lives through awareness and the education of men, the women in their lives, as well as the medical community about prostate cancer prevalence, the importance of early detection, and available treatment options, as well as other men's health issues. The Council - comprised of a consortium of leading physicians, health educators, scientists and prostate cancer advocates - aims to conduct nation wide screenings for men and perform research that will aid in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. More information is available at www.prostateconditions.org.

About Assurant Health
Assurant Health has been in business since 1892 and is the brand name for products underwritten and issued by Time Insurance Company, John Alden Life Insurance Company and Union Security Insurance Company. Together, these three underwriting companies provide health insurance coverage for almost one million people nationwide.

Each underwriting company is financially responsible for its own insurance products. Primary products include individual medical, small group, short-term and student health insurance products, as well as non-insurance products and consumer-choice products such as Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. With almost 3,000 employees, Assurant Health is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with operations offices in Minnesota, Idaho and Florida, as well as sales offices across the country. The Assurant Health Web site is www.assuranthealth.com.

Assurant Health is part of Assurant, a premier provider of specialized insurance products and related services in North America and selected international markets. Its four key businesses - Assurant Employee Benefits, Assurant Health, Assurant Solutions and Assurant Specialty Property - have partnered with clients who are leaders in their industries and have built leadership positions in a number of specialty insurance market segments worldwide.

Assurant, a Fortune 500 company and a member of the S&P 500, is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AIZ. Assurant has over $24 billion in assets and $8 billion in annual revenue. Assurant has approximately 14,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered in New York's financial district. The Assurant Web site is www.assurant.com.

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