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A Look Back at Our Journey — and a Call to Action for Yours

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Since 2010, Blue Cure has taken bold steps to challenge stigma, reframe the prostate cancer conversation, and inspire life-saving action through creative, grassroots advocacy. From fashion shows to cross-country tours, from celebrity support to city hall campaigns — and even supporters skydiving, cycling the MS150, or reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro — every step in our journey was designed to get men talking — and families acting. Whether we were lighting buildings blue or driving 8,867 miles across the U.S., the goal was always the same: inspire earlier detection, healthier living, and better outcomes for all men.

If you’re reading this, you can take action in your own community:

• Ask your local sports team to wear blue in September — National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
• Call your city hall and request they light their building blue.
• Share your story. Share this site. Start a conversation.

Because one voice — even a quiet one — can spark powerful change.

From city halls to clubhouses, from teammates to brothers — every action counts.

2010: Seeds of Advocacy

At age 35, Gabe Canales was diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer — a form typically slow-growing, confined to the prostate gland, and not likely to spread. With no symptoms and no family history, the diagnosis was a shock — and a wake-up call.

Gabe turned to what he knew best: communications, marketing, and storytelling. He appeared on CBS News Houston, launched the Journey with Prostate Cancer Facebook page (which quickly grew to over 7,500 early supporters), and began connecting with survivors, patients, and families. (Today, that same page has more than 210,000 followers.)

Gabe’s first television interview after diagnosis — CBS News Houston, 2010

2011: From Diagnosis to Mission

Blue Cure Foundation was officially founded. With support from philanthropist Dr. Carolyn Farb, actress and cancer survivor Fran Drescher, and the late actor and survivor Sir Roger Moore, Blue Cure gained early visibility. NFL Quarterback Matt Schaub proudly wore Blue Cure gear, helping open media doors.

Our first major public event, the Neiman Marcus Men’s Fashion Show in Houston, drew 300+ attendees and featured mannequins in storefronts wearing Blue Cure shirts. Media coverage followed — and so did momentum.

2012–2013: From Court to Community

After speaking to the University of St. Thomas men’s basketball team, Gabe was approached by a player inspired to do more. Blue Cure Basketball was born — with youth teams wearing Blue Cure gear across seven Texas cities. Every jersey worn, every tournament played, was an opportunity to encourage PSA screenings, promote prevention, and spark conversations at home.

The deeper goal? Inspire fathers and grandfathers — using sports as a bridge to family health conversations. Camps followed. PLEX owner Danny Arnold and St. Thomas partnered to lead training while Gabe shared his story — planting seeds of prevention and advocacy early.

2012: Elevating Awareness Through Athlete Support

In 2012, Blue Cure began gaining traction with support from professional athletes who believed in the nonprofit’s mission. NFL players like Chris Myers (who joined Blue Cure’s Board), J.J. Watt, and Matt Schaub wore Blue Cure shirts, attended awareness events, and helped draw national media attention. Their support amplified Blue Cure’s message, encouraging men to take ownership of their health through prevention, early detection, and lifestyle change.

2013: Sharing the Vision on the TEDx Stage

In 2013, Blue Cure founder Gabe Canales was invited to give a TEDx talk titled “Changing the Way We Fight Cancer” at TEDxHouston. His talk was a defining moment for the organization—shaping public understanding of Blue Cure’s mission to promote prevention and empower individuals with lifestyle-based education. The nomination came as a result of the nonprofit’s growing visibility, media presence, and Gabe’s personal story as a young man diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer.

In the talk, he challenged the prevailing narrative around cancer by highlighting the need to expand our focus beyond treatment and fundraising—to include prevention, environmental awareness, and proactive health education. Watch the TEDx talk here.

2014: Launching Blue Cure en Español

Recognizing the need for culturally relevant health resources, Gabe launched Blue Cure en Español in 2014 to better reach Spanish-speaking communities with life-saving information on prostate cancer, prevention, and men’s health. The initiative included bilingual brochures, infographics, social media content, and educational resources on nutrition and lifestyle.

In 2016, Blue Cure produced its first Spanish-language video with English subtitles, led by former Telemundo national correspondent Florencia Parada. This effort reflected Blue Cure’s commitment to inclusive communication and meeting communities where they are — linguistically and culturally.

As part of this ongoing mission, Blue Cure’s Texas Men’s Health Tour prioritizes outreach in cities with large Latino populations — including El Paso, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and the Rio Grande Valley — helping break stigma and connect men to resources that encourage proactive health.

Pictured above: Blue Cure en Español logo and excerpts from our first Spanish-language video with English subtitles, produced in 2016 to support culturally inclusive outreach and education.

2013–2018: Launching the Blue Cure Lecture Series

Blue Cure launched its signature Lecture Series in 2013, convening audiences of 350–550 guests to hear from trailblazing voices in lifestyle medicine, nutrition, cancer prevention, and environmental health. The events attracted civic leaders, medical researchers, business executives, and policymakers committed to advancing men’s health.

Each event honored an individual using their voice to spark change. The inaugural event featured a letter of support from former U.S. President George W. Bush and honored U.S. Secretary of Education (2001–2005), Dr. Rod Paige — a prostate cancer survivor and former Blue Cure Board Member.

Notable speakers included:

• Dr. Margaret Cuomo (A World Without Cancer)
• Whole Foods Co–Founder John Mackey
• Lifestyle medicine pioneer Dr. Dean Ornish
• Consumer advocate and environmental activist Erin Brockovich

These weren’t just lectures — they were bold acts of advocacy and activism, calling attendees to action for prevention, lifestyle change, and community empowerment.

Though paused after 2018 due to Hurricane Harvey and the pandemic, Blue Cure plans to relaunch the Lecture Series in the future — continuing its tradition of delivering credible, transformative information to the public.

2014–2015: Lighting the Way — One Building at a Time

Building on Blue Cure’s 2011 call for America to “Go Blue,” the nonprofit launched two national visibility campaigns — #SignForDad and #WhiteHouseBlue — calling on President Obama to light the White House blue for one evening during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Elected officials including U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (San Diego), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Gene Green, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Rosenberg Mayor Vincent Morales, and Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames publicly supported the initiative — joining the campaign by holding #SignForDad signs and urging national action.

They were joined by entertainers such as Kelly Clarkson, Seth Rogen, and Christina Applegate, as well as pro athletes — including members of the San Diego Padres — and thousands of supporters across the country. Their shared goal: raise awareness, reach younger men, encourage early detection, and honor the more than 2.5 million prostate cancer survivors in America.

Leaders, athletes, and citizens joined the movement — speaking out for early detection, awareness, and prevention.

In a moving PSA, a mother appealed directly to the White House: “Light it blue — for my husband, for my son, for all men.” Though the White House remained dark, the call resonated — sparking a wave of action across the country.

Cities and organizations responded. Buildings across Houston, Boston, Seattle, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Denver lit blue for prostate cancer awareness, uniting in solidarity with families affected by the disease.

National landmarks and institutions joined the movement to #LightItBlue — proving that even bold awareness efforts can begin with a single voice.

“Though the White House was never lit blue, homes, hospitals, and city halls across America were — proving that when a small voice speaks boldly enough, others will carry the light.”

Blue Cure Run Series: 2014–2021

Blue Cure’s Run Series began in 2014 as a bold and energizing platform to promote screenings, prevention, and healthy lifestyles — extending our mission into the community in a dynamic way. Unlike most races focused solely on fundraising, our runs were full-scale awareness campaigns, often months in the making, centered around men’s health education and lifestyle–driven risk reduction.

Our inaugural run took place with Houston City Hall glowing blue in the background. Participants enjoyed Zumba after sunset, a laser light show, and a health–conscious vendor area. Blue Cure founder Gabe Canales, a lifelong runner, was intentional about making each event family–friendly, fun, and aligned with our prevention mission. Our first four runs were hosted by former CBS anchor Lily Jang, followed by several hosted by radio personality Ryan Chase, a prostate cancer survivor and advocate. Professional athletes, physicians, and cancer researchers were among those who participated, alongside families and survivors.

While the 2017 run was canceled due to Hurricane Harvey, we continued with a New Year Run and additional events in 2018, 2019, and 2021. Though the series has paused since 2021, we remain committed to resuming it in the near future as part of our expanding outreach efforts.

These runs weren’t just about crossing a finish line — they were about saving lives through awareness, early detection, and community–powered momentum.

Mayor Sylvester Turner helped kick off the Blue Cure Run — his presence was a powerful gesture of support. May he rest in peace.

2015: Reframing the Conversation — No Crud November

In 2015, Blue Cure launched No Crud November, a bold campaign to shift the focus of men’s health awareness from facial hair to food choices. At a time when most November campaigns encouraged growing beards, Blue Cure asked: “What good is growing your beard if you’re growing your gut?”

No Crud November encouraged men to ditch one junk food — or “crud” — for 30 days as a step toward cancer prevention and healthier living. The campaign was rooted in Gabe’s own experience: after his prostate cancer diagnosis, a leading urologist’s first question wasn’t about surgery — it was about diet.

The initiative featured original social media content and a powerful video campaign, with participation from former NFL player Ryan Pontbriand and father Ethan Etzel. Both shared why it was important to model better eating habits for their children. The message was clear: awareness is good — but turning awareness into action is how we prevent disease and save lives. More than a decade later, Blue Cure continues to empower men to take ownership of their health—reminding us that daily habits matter, and prevention begins with awareness in action.

Pictured above: Social media graphics and video excerpts from Blue Cure’s 2015 No Crud November campaign, featuring former NFL player Ryan Pontbriand and father Ethan Etzel, promoting lifestyle change as prevention.

2017: Setback and Survival

Hurricane Harvey devastated Houston and forced Blue Cure to cancel its Night Run fundraiser — with major financial loss. Our lecture with Erin Brockovich was postponed to 2018. But Blue Cure kept moving, leaning on community and creative communications.

2018: Strength in Stories

Blue Cure expanded bilingual outreach, digital content, and lifestyle-driven survivorship education. We spotlighted real men’s stories — survivors, caregivers, patients — to unite and inform diverse communities.

2019: The Cross-Country Men’s Health Tour

Gabe embarked on the 8,867-mile Blue Cure Men’s Health Tour, visiting 40+ cities nationwide. Through social media, interviews, and community conversations, he shared his journey and highlighted local men’s health statistics, encouraging screenings, healthy habits, and action. The goal: turn awareness into personal and community change.

2020–2022: Mental Health, Digital Outreach & a New Chapter

When COVID-19 paused in-person events, we expanded our reach through online content and conversations — placing new emphasis on mental health, isolation, grief, and the invisible challenges men face. During this time, Blue Cure hosted a virtual series of expert-led conversations that explored how lifestyle impacts mental health, chronic disease, and cancer risk.

Guests included:

• Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study and WHOLE
• Dr. Joel Kahn, renowned preventive cardiologist and author
• Dr. Lorenzo Cohen & Alison Jefferies, authors of Anticancer Living
• Dr. Alan Desmond, gastroenterologist and plant-based nutrition advocate
• And everyday men and cancer survivors sharing their lived experiences

These conversations served as a powerful prelude to the Blue Cure Men’s Health Podcast, amplifying our message through digital platforms and laying the groundwork for a more accessible, ongoing national dialogue.

2022: Sharing the Story

In 2022, Gabe published his first book: Unexpected Diagnosis: Prostate Cancer and the Wake-Up Call to Live Healthier and Live Smarter. As part of a national media tour, he appeared on local affiliates across the country to share his story and amplify Blue Cure’s message of prevention, early detection, and lifestyle-driven health.

Media tour stops included FOX 13’s Good Day Seattle with Brian Flores, CBS’s Great Day Houston with Deborah Duncan, and FOX San Francisco’s KTVU with Sal Castaneda — all part of Gabe’s efforts to raise awareness and encourage proactive health through Blue Cure.

2023: Rebuilding for a New Era

As public life reopened, Blue Cure began rebuilding its infrastructure, updating websites, and preparing for a new wave of engagement, education, and impact — both online and in communities.

2024–Present: Podcast, Presence, and People

In 2024, Blue Cure launched the Men’s Health Podcast, hosted by founder Gabe Canales, who was diagnosed with low-risk prostate cancer at age 35. The podcast features compelling conversations with world-renowned experts in urology, oncology, lifestyle medicine, nutrition, mental health, and patient advocacy — providing men with evidence-based insights to live healthier, longer lives.

Guests include some of the foremost thought leaders in their fields:

• Dr. Dean Ornish – Lifestyle medicine pioneer and founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute
• Dr. Stacy Loeb – Internationally recognized prostate cancer researcher and urologist at NYU Langone
• Dr. Matthew Cooperberg – UCSF professor and Chief of Urology at the SF VA Medical Center
• Dr. John J. Ratey – Harvard psychiatrist and author of Spark
• Dr. Larry Lipshultz – World-renowned urologist at Baylor College of Medicine and expert in male reproductive health, erectile dysfunction, and hormone therapy

For a complete list of featured experts and patient advocates, visit: bluecure.org/featured-voices

2025: Fifteen Years and Forward

This year marks 15 years since Gabe’s diagnosis. Blue Cure recommits to its mission: save lives through education, early detection, and advocacy. We’ll continue to spotlight prevention, share stories, and light the path for others to take charge of their health.

— and the journey continues.

Blue Cure Supporters Around the World

These are just a few of the many everyday champions who have proudly worn Blue Cure around the world — from mountains and coastlines to landmarks and gyms. We’re deeply grateful for their support, advocacy, and commitment to proactive health. By sharing this message with friends and community, they continue to inspire hope and action.

Want to join the movement? Tag @bluecure or use #BlueCure to be featured and inspire others.