BOSTON, MA- AdMeTech Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission to end prostate cancer crisis, which strikes as many as 1 in 6 men. AdMeTech provides international leadership in education and research to advance accurate diagnostic tools for early detection and treatment, which are critical for cure, saving lives and improving quality of life in millions of men. AdMeTech created Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer, a public awareness campaign with the goal to increase government and philanthropic funding for research and innovation.

On October 10, AdMeTech Foundation in cooperation with Arthur Murray International (AMI) organized Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer benefit at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. This event featured Thomas M. Menino, Boston City Mayor, Barry Hughson, Executive Director of Boston Ballet, and Jim DiCecca, President of the Massachusetts Association of Ballroom Dancing (MASSabda), a chapter of USA Dance.

Dr. Faina Shtern, President of the AdMeTech Foundation, joined efforts with Mr. John Kimmins, President of AMI and Mr. Mark Lightner, Area Chair of AMI in New England, to assure success of this effort. Dr. Shtern commented, “Prostate cancer is a threat to every man. Under AdMeTech and Arthur Murray’s leadership, many of the region’s dance studios united in the fight against prostate cancer and brought together more than 200 people. It was deeply moving to see so many New Englanders dancing for men who may face prostate cancer, for men who live with prostate cancer, and for men who lost their battle and died of prostate cancer.”

Mr. Lightner stated, “I am so supportive of Dance for the Cure because it was very difficult for me to watch what happened to several friends who recently went through the prostate cancer ordeal and were left incontinent, impotent, and uncertain about their future. I hope that Arthur Murray, with its wide network of dance studios across the nation, will be able to expand this effort regionally and nationally.” Mayor Menino joined Mr. Lightner, Mr. Hughson, and Mr. DiCecca in declaring their support of Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer.

Arthur Murray, SuperShag Productions, MASSabda, and other dance organizations in New England participated in the October 10th event. John Kimmins and Mark Lightner of AMI played a significant role in making this event a success. They encouraged both participation and support from Arthur Murray leaders and dancers throughout New England. The key Arthur Murray contributors in Massachusetts included Boston’s Kia Kenney and Marcio DeSouza, Burlington’s Linda Mansfield and Laura Mailander, and Natick’s Olga Stepanets and Stanislav Ivanov. They were joined by Marc Bertrand of Arthur Murray-Johnston, Rhode Island, and Steve Mathon and Margery Patten of Arthur Murray-Manchester, New Hampshire.

Christopher Johnston, Tibor Kerekes, Peter Walker, and Andy Fischel of SuperShag Productions have been providing leadership among independent studios of New England in supporting Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer. They were joined by Larinda McRaven of Avanti; Russell Jackson of Balera; Vlad Shamis of Dance Fever; Olga Kinnard and Jean Michel Erole of Dance Republic; and Kathryn Vaughn of Swing and Sway Dancing of Maine. MASSabda’s President Jim DiCecca and Vice President Jane Rexroad mobilized their membership and assisted organizers in developing an impressive program with regional and national dance champions. Didio Barrera and Keith Todd, publishers of Dance Beat, were instrumental in publicizing and promoting Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer with the national dance community.

Ms. Dawn Smart of Doré Designs donated a spectacular ballroom gown specially designed for Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer. The generosity of Doré Designs offered a chance for anyone interested in a memorable appearance at a special evening or at a formal ballroom dancing event to win a gown valued at $4,600 for the price of $10 raffle ticket. The raffle was expanded and supported by Mr. Thomas Murdock, Vice President of AMI at Superama in Las Vegas, Mr. Eddie Ares at the Hotlanta Dance Challenge in Atlanta, and Mr. Sam Sodano at the Ohio Star Ball in Columbus. The winning ticket was drawn publicly at the Ohio Star Ball on November 22nd. Out of hundreds of people who participated in this raffle, Mr. Dexter Wang of Massachusetts was the winner. This serendipity wasn’t lost on anyone in Boston, since Mr. Wang and Mrs. Julia Wang have been strong supporters of the Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer in honor of their uncle who died of this disease.

Other major sponsors included Joe McGarvey of Hitachi, Nick Kosovich of LeNique, Richard Ortega, Donna Breault and Cheryl Iodice of iCAD, Frank Miranda of A Better Resolution, Inc., and Bill Wynn of KLB Productions. Silent auction items were donated by the Boston Red Sox, New England Revolution, Boston Ballet, Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Take the Lead Ballroom Dancewear, TPC Golf Getaway, State Street Barbers, Marquis Jewelers, MAC Cosmetics Newbury Street, L’Elegance Salon, Rhythmic Rentals, Sports Club-LA, and This Crazy Thing.

This growing support of Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer is a direct result of the effective partnerships established by the AdMeTech Foundation with Messrs. Kimmins and Lightner of AMI; Chris Johnston, Peter Walker, Tibor Kerekes, and Andy Fishel of SuperShag Productions; and Didio Barrera and Keith Todd of Dance Beat.

The public awareness campaign, such as Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer, is critically important because most people in this country do not know that prostate cancer is the most common major cancer in the United States and the second most lethal cancer in men. Prostate cancer strikes 1 in 6 men and has become more common than even breast cancer, striking 1 in 8 women. A man dies every 19 minutes, and a new case is diagnosed every 2.5 minutes. It is estimated that there are more than two million American men currently living with prostate cancer. The lack of public knowledge has had a staggering impact. Public and private investment in research lags far behind that in breast cancer. Consequently, men do not have life-saving diagnostic tools similar to that of mammograms for women. The impact of Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer has been profound: Many participants of this effort from all over the country earlier this year signed a petition to US Congress, which in late December 2009 allocated $1.6 million for the AdMeTech’s groundbreaking research program.

The next Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer event is being planned for Los Angeles for 2010 in cooperation with Nick Kosovich of the ABC TV hit Dancing with the Stars; he is the show’s current coach and choreographer and a former professional dancer. Movie legend Peter Fonda, who co-starred with Dennis Hopper in the cult classic Easy Rider, has offered his support and participation. Dennis Hopper recently announced his ongoing battle with prostate cancer. Mr. Fonda will be joined by Mr. Stephen Nemeth and Dr. Bruce Hensel. Mr. Nemeth is an Academy Award-nominated Hollywood movie producer, CEO of Rhino Films and a recipient of numerous prestigious professional awards. He is a long-standing supporter of AdMeTech Foundation and creator of the star-studded movie “Fears and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Dr. Hensel is a four time Emmy Award-winning Chief Health, Medical and Science Producer, Editor, and Correspondent of NBC TV in Los Angeles. Mr. Kosovich invites everyone to this exciting event saying, “Join us and support Dance for the Cure of Prostate Cancer. You will meet some of the most remarkable leaders of the Hollywood, TV and dancing communities. You will see remarkable performances, dance all night, and help us in the fight against prostate cancer, which is a threat to every man and to every woman who loves him.”