A look into our arrival D.C. for the ZEROPC Advocacy Summit (Saturday)

We have only a 40-minute stopover in Chicago, so you move quickly through the airport, weaving through the crowd with purpose. Even in the rush, something meaningful happens—we ran into James from the Walnut Tribe Men’s Prostate Cancer Support Group. In a place built for brief encounters, this one feels intentional.

While we’re standing in line to board, PCA for Life director David strikes up a conversation with another traveler heading to the summit. We soon learn his name is Ted. He’s a stage 4 metastatic cancer survivor, and the words he shares stop you in your tracks—he’s in remission. What a blessing. Ted has traveled all the way from Oregon, carrying with him not just luggage, but a testimony of hope.

As I  think about the summit, you realize it isn’t just an event. It’s a gathering of survivors, caregivers, advocates, and warriors in every sense of the word. Each person you meet carries a story—some marked by struggle, some by triumph, all marked by passion. You can feel how deeply each attendee cares about the fight against prostate cancer. It’s more than awareness; it’s personal.

By the time you arrive and settle into your hotel room in Washington, D.C., you sense the energy of the city around you. It never seems to stand still. Construction seems to be at every turn. Streets hum with movement. Progress is happening everywhere you look, and it mirrors the mission that has brought us here.

We gather in the lobby for dinner and reconnect with Ted. We invite him to join us, grateful for more time together. As he speaks about his journey with stage 4 prostate cancer, he doesn’t hold back. He shares the hard parts—the physical toll, the emotional weight, the uncertainty. Yet in his honesty, you find strength. Listening to him, I realize once again courage doesn’t always roar; sometimes it simply tells the truth.

We then met Grace from Miami. She has been attending the summit since 2018. She talks about her husband’s 15-year battle with prostate cancer and how she stood beside him until the very end. Even after his passing, she continues to show up. For her, being part of the summit army is a way to keep fighting—to honor his life and ensure others have hope. Her commitment humbles you.

As Sunday approaches, anticipation builds inside us. You know the summit will be filled with powerful stories, hard conversations, and renewed determination. You’re not just attending an event—you’re stepping into a movement. And you’re ready.