PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Five-time world heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield was in Providence Thursday to launch a national campaign to spread prostate cancer awareness.
Holyfield teamed up with communications firm (add)ventures to film and produce a public service announcement for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The goal is to raise awareness among African American men about the importance of getting checked regularly for prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer among men, and it affects African American men 1.6 times more than Caucasian men.
The (add)ventures CEO and his firm devised the campaign in partnership with Holyfield’s philanthropic organization, Team Holyfield, after learning how passionate the former boxer is about the cause.
“The most important message is the fact that in life when you do something, appreciation is being able to do what you can do with the fame or whatever you receive, to give back and to show people the way,” said Holyfield. “I wouldn’t be who I am if this man named Carter Marketing didn’t tell me, you could be like Muhammad Ali.”
Holyfield said he’s encouraging all men to put their egos aside and get checked for prostate cancer.
