Spreading Awareness and Saving Lives -- The Oral Cancer Foundation's Walk for Awareness May Be Coming to a City Near You!

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Sep 21, 2015, 09:34 ET

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Oral cancer has historically existed outside the awareness of much of the public, yet in the U.S. it claims one life every hour of every day of the year. This year alone, approximately 45,750 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer. This number is on the rise and The Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF) needs help spreading awareness about this devastating disease. OCF is working in communities across the country to bring "Walk for Awareness" events to the public, and with them the opportunity to engage in a conversation that too few people are having.

These events raise awareness of a disease that far too many Americans have never even heard of. Most events also incorporate free to the public oral cancer screenings, providing the opportunity to educate attendees about the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer while also instilling the importance of early detection and need for annual oral cancer screenings. To see if an OCF Walk for Awareness is taking place near you, visit oralcancer.org and click support to view an interactive map of the organization's upcoming events.

OCF has been raising awareness and providing support in communities for 16 years in cities scattered across the US. Here are a just a few of the remaining Fall 2015 events:

The 5th Annual Oral Cancer Foundation Walk/Fun Run for Awareness - Twin Cities, Minnesota, will take place this Sunday, September 27, 2015 at City of Eagan Community Center. For more details, to register and donate please visit, donate.oralcancer.org/event/twincities2015.

The 9th Annual Oral Cancer Foundation Walk/Run for Awareness - Boston, Massachusetts, will take place on Sunday, October 4, 2015. This event has been taking place for nearly a decade! Please join OCF this year at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Brighton, Massachusetts. For more information about this event, to register or donate please visit, donate.oralcancer.org/event/boston2015.

The 2nd Annual Oral Cancer Walk/Run for Awareness - Southern California will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley, CA. Please visit, donate.oralcancer.org/event/southerncalifornia to find out more.

Participating in and supporting an OCF event helps the foundation accomplish many of its important missions. As a national public-service, 501c3 non-profit entity, OCF's mission is to reduce suffering and save lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy, and patient support activities. In addition to OCF's community outreach activities, the foundation hosts the websites oralcancer.org and oralcancersupport.org to deliver free and vetted oral cancer health information to the public including the risk factors that lead to oral cancer, signs and symptoms, treatments, current research, complications of treatment, nutrition, related clinical trials, and current oral cancer related news.

Through the small event registration fees and community fundraising, OCF's national walk events pay for the many missions of the foundation related to this disease. The money funds researchers working on various components of the problem, pays for advocacy work at places as diverse as the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, The Centers for Disease Control, and even in the political components of our government. By participating in an OCF event, you can help further progress against a disease that takes far too many lives.

About the Oral Cancer Foundation:
The Oral Cancer Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 national public service, non-profit entity designed to reduce suffering and save lives through prevention, education, research, advocacy, and support activities. Visit www.oralcancerfoundation.org to learn more about risk factors, signs and symptoms, treatments, current research and current oral cancer related news, among other important information.

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SOURCE Oral Cancer Foundation