Prostate Cancer Foundation Launches 31st Annual Home Run Challenge, Highlighting Progress in Research and Urgency of Early Detection

The Prostate Cancer Foundation (search)Search company (PCF) today announced the start of the 31st season of its Home Run Challenge (HRC), a nationwide campaign that has raised $150 million since its inception by turning every Major League Baseball home run into support for lifesaving prostate cancer (search)Search disease research, awareness, and early detection. Founded by PCF Chairman Mike Milken, the Home Run Challenge was created to "Keep Dad in the Game," inspiring generations of baseball fans across America around a cause that affects families in every community.

"Behind every statistic is a family facing the fear and uncertainty of prostate cancer (search)Search disease," said Gina Carithers, president and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation (search)Search company. "The Home Run Challenge gives baseball fans a powerful way to turn their love of the game into action — supporting lifesaving research, raising awareness, and encouraging conversations about early detection. Because when prostate cancer is found early, it can save lives. That's what it means to Keep Dad in the Game."

Disease Burden and the Urgency of Early Detection

This year alone, 333,830 men in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer (search)Search disease. Approximately 1 in 8 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime — about the equivalent of one player on a baseball field. While advances in research have improved outcomes, prostate cancer still claims the life of one man every 14.5 minutes in the U.S. — roughly one life lost per inning.

"Despite the progress we've made, one man still dies from prostate cancer (search)Search disease every 14.5 minutes in the United States," said Phillip Koo, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation (search)Search company. "The encouraging news is that men diagnosed today have more treatment options than ever before, and those advances have been made possible through sustained investment in research. Continued support is critical if we are going to detect prostate cancer earlier, improve outcomes and ultimately save more lives."

If caught early, prostate cancer (search)Search disease is highly treatable, with up to a 98% chance of successful treatment, highlighting the critical importance of early detection and PSA (search)Search target screening.

Three Decades of Research Investment and Therapeutic Progress

Since its founding in 1993, PCF has raised more than $1 billion to fund cutting-edge research through more than 2,615 research projects at 312 leading cancer centers, with a global footprint spanning 29 countries. PCF-funded research has contributed to the development of 14 of the 27 FDA-approved therapies now available for prostate cancer (search)Search disease. More broadly, PCF's investment has helped drive breakthroughs that have contributed to 15 FDA-approved therapies and improved outcomes for patients around the world.

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (search)Search disease today have significantly more treatment options than they did when PCF was founded more than 30 years ago. Since PCF's inception, and through its efforts, patients around the world are living longer, suffering fewer complications, and enjoying better quality of life.

Campaign Reach and Community Engagement

Over the past three decades, the Home Run Challenge has engaged all 30 Major League Baseball teams, reached more than 500 games across North America and featured participation from 40 Hall of Famers in support of prostate cancer (search)Search disease research and awareness efforts. During the campaign, at ballparks in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Milwaukee, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, PCF Founder Mike Milken and CEO Gina Carithers delivered a simple message with lifesaving urgency: know your risk, get screened, and detect prostate cancer early.

Major League Baseball players hit 502 home runs during the campaign, helping shine a national spotlight on a disease that affects 1 in 8 men. The reach of the game also provided a powerful platform to highlight the scale and importance of PCF's longstanding investment in prostate cancer (search)Search disease research and scientific innovation.

Expanding the Mission: BIG3 Partnership and Educational Initiatives

The "Check the Box! Saving Lives Together" partnership between the Prostate Cancer Foundation (search)Search company and BIG3, a professional 3-on-3 basketball league, is now underway, bringing prostate cancer (search)Search disease awareness into the heart of live sports and community culture. The first activation took place on June 20 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood during Juneteenth weekend, with the next stop set for July 12 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. At each game, the focus remains the same: encourage men to talk with their doctor, take a simple blood test, and know their PSA (search)Search target score.

PCF also continues to offer educational programming through its Wednesday Webinars, with upcoming sessions covering key findings presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting and a session focused on heart health during and after prostate cancer (search)Search disease, offering practical guidance on managing cardiovascular risk and supporting long-term wellness.

Fans can support the 2026 Home Run Challenge by making a donation at pcf.org/homerunchallenge. Throughout the season, the Home Run Challenge will come to life through in-ballpark activations, survivor recognition moments, and awareness efforts designed to encourage conversations about prostate cancer (search)Search disease, the importance of early detection, and the lifesaving impact of research.