Canadians Celebrate Father's Day and the Men They Love

15 Communities Set to Increase Awareness of Prostate Cancer this Father's Day

TORONTO, June 5, 2013 /CNW/ - Families across Canada will come together this Father's Day, Sunday, June 16th, to celebrate the men they love at Prostate Cancer Canada's Safeway Father's Day Walk/Run. This annual event sponsored by Canada Safeway will see residents in 15 cities across the country lace up their running shoes to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer. 

"Prostate Cancer Canada and prostate cancer survivors across the country are so grateful to Canada Safeway for helping to increase knowledge of prostate cancer, the most common cancer to affect Canadian men," said Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of Prostate Cancer Canada. "Safeway's staff and customers alike have led the success of the Father's Day Walk/Run across Western Canada for many years, raising millions of dollars to support research - research that may one day lead to a cure."

"I look forward to lacing up my running shoes and joining over 1,000 Safeway employees and their families across Western Canada at the Safeway Father's Day Walk/Run in support of Prostate Cancer Canada," said Chuck Mulvenna, President and Chief Operating Officer for Canada Safeway.  "We are pleased to support this important cause by raising much needed funds and sharing the message about the importance of early detection and treatment."

In addition to supporting the Walk/Run, Safeway stores across Western Canada and northwestern Ontario are dedicating the month of June to raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer research. More than $10 million has been raised by Canada Safeway stores in the past decade, having a tremendous impact on the prostate cancer cause.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men. In 2013, it is estimated that 23,600 men will be diagnosed with the disease and 3,900 will die from it. Funds raised during the Father's Day Walk/Run support research that will uncover better diagnostic and treatment options and provide support services for those living with the disease.  If detected and treated in its earliest stages over 90 percent of prostate cancer cases are curable; early detection is key.

For more information about this year's event, please visit fathersdayrun.ca or follow us on Twitter @CanadaSafeway and @ProstateCancerC using the hashtags #FDWR and #FathersDay.

About Prostate Cancer Canada: www.prostatecancer.ca Prostate Cancer Canada raises funds for the development of programs related to awareness and public education, advocacy, support of those affected, and research into the prevention, detection, treatment and cure of prostate cancer.  Follow our Twitter account @ProstateCancerC or see us on Facebook at Prostate Cancer Canada.

About Canada Safeway:  www.safeway.ca Canada Safeway, a wholly owned subsidiary of Safeway Inc. operates 224 stores across Western Canada and northwestern Ontario.  Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 100 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America, based on sales. The company operates 1,644 stores in the United States and western Canada and had annual sales of $44.2 billion in 2012. The company's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.  Follow the campaign on Twitter @CanadaSafeway or,Facebook at Canada Safeway.

For more information please contact:

SOURCE: Prostate Cancer Canada

Rebecca von Goetz
Prostate Cancer Canada                        
416 441 2131 ex.258                                       

Betty Kellsey                               
Canada Safeway Limited
403 730 3511