In 2013, my dad was diagnosed with the shocking news he had bladder cancer. He was caught completely off guard. We were in the dark about this disease and struggled to find information before finding the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN).

In 2014, I decided to get involved and organized the first Houston Bladder Cancer Walk through BCAN. This is my 4th year planning the AmpUp! Walk/Run to End Bladder Cancer! It is a national event and I hope you will be able to join us this year! I have formed “Team Andre” in an effort to raise awareness and money to find a cure for bladder cancer.

Bladder cancer is the 5th most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, yet few people know anything about it. It impacts both men and women of all ages and races. One in 42 people will be diagnosed with bladder cancer during their lifetime. Bladder cancer also has a recurrence rate of 50-80% and because it requires life-long surveillance, it is the most expensive cancer to treat on a per patient basis.

I am walking for the more than 500,000 people living with bladder cancer in the U.S., to support the nearly 77,000 newly diagnosed, and to honor the 16,000 who will not survive their bladder cancer journey this year. BCAN is the organization these people turn to in their quest to learn more about this devastating disease.

Please consider joining my family on the walk on April 23rd or making a donation to Team Andre at http://support.bcan.org/houston2017 . Enter Team Andre under “Search Teams”…click on Maja Latham under “Team Captain” and either join my team or make a donation.

By making a donation you will be helping BCAN to promote bladder cancer research education and support programs – but, most important, to save lives. Any amount helps and I thank you for your support.

Hope to see all of you, your kids, significant others and pets at the park!

All My Best,

Maja Latham