Betsey and Joe Mowery, both 51, have experienced a lot of life's ups and downs since they met 25 years ago. They've shared joys such as the birth of daughters Sarah and Katie, now 23 and 20 respectively, and heartaches such as when their fathers -- Jim Mowery of Piggott and Charlie Crow of Rector -- were each diagnosed with prostate cancer. Both men battled and survived their illnesses.
"It's hard for men when they have their prostate removed," Betsey says. "There's a stigma that they may be less of a man or have issues with impotence or incontinence. It's important for us to speak up, to say they are not any less of a man."
The Little Rock couple's shared journey led them to serve as co-chairmen of this year's fourth annual Rockin' Blue Ribbon Bash. The soiree has drawn nearly 400 people and benefits the Arkansas Prostate Cancer Foundation. Organizers predict proceeds to hit $115,000 this year. The party is set for 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Little Rock. A VIP reception begins at 5:30. Tickets are $125 for individuals, $100 for prostate cancer survivors.
While the underlying theme will be the blue ribbon, which symbolizes the fight against prostate cancer, guests can expect a Hog-wild hue of red woven into the revelry. University of Arkansas' Razorback head football Coach Bret Bielema is serving as the gala's honoree.
Bielema is slated to issue a midevening pledge to encourage others to make donations and is expected to share his thoughts on why more men need to be tested for the treatable disease.
"One in seven men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime and among the African-American community, that number rises to one in four," says Joe Mowery, adding that there is a genetic component to the disease.
The party, with former Razorback player and morning radio talk show host David Bazzel as master of ceremonies, will include dancing and music by the Intruders, as well as an awards presentation.
Between enjoying heavy hors d'oeuvres and cocktails provided by Glazers, partygoers will also have the chance to vie for prizes in silent and live auctions, the proceeds from which will also benefit the foundation's mission.
The foundation provides statewide education, screening and one-on-one patient support services in battling the disease, which is the second leading cause of cancer death among men in Arkansas, says Patrick Presley, foundation director of development.
"We're not a local chapter of a national organization," he explains, adding that there is no national organization for battling prostate cancer. "We are our own entity."
In the years before Rockin' Blue Ribbon Bash was held, the organization's annual fundraiser was known as Boys and Their Toys. Bow ties were the event's trademark, but a blue ribbon in a shape similar to the one used by the Susan G. Komen Foundation is a more effective emblem, Presley says. The organization was founded in 2000 by Jim East, president of Iberia Bank, along with Mark V. Williamson and John C. Youngblood.
Live auction items this year include a trip to Santa Fe, N.M.; a dinner party for 10 at Cache restaurant in Little Rock; a special golf package featuring an appearance on the KARN-FM, 102.9 Saturday morning golf show (followed by a golf game with former Arkansas Razorback and NBA basketball player Joe Kleine and Joe Mowery and some golf-related items); and a political free-for-all event (similar to the former show Crossfire) with this newspaper's political columnist John Brummett.
"This should be a very hot item considering the incendiary political climate nationally," Presley says.
Attendees can also expect a wide variety of Razorback-related silent auction items such as a football autographed by Coach Bielema.
The Mowerys stepped up to serve as co-chairmen of this year's event after Betsey's father, who serves on the organization's board, mentioned that the group was looking for someone to take the reins of this year's fundraiser. Joe is an investment banker with Stephens Inc. Betsey works as a part-time program coordinator with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences child passenger safety program, which is based in the UAMS neonatal intensive care unit.
Joe's father was originally diagnosed with cancer in the lining of his bladder about 10 years ago, and when he was being treated for that it was discovered he also had prostate cancer and had his prostate removed.
When he was living in Nashville, Tenn., Betsey's father became involved in a study at Vanderbilt University because he didn't have prostate cancer. Even after he returned to Arkansas, Crow remained in the study and continued to have his PSA (prostate-specific antigen) levels tested. In 2007, he experienced a dramatic rise in his PSA test results; two years later he had his prostate removed.
One of his doctors discovered cancer had spread to one lung, and he underwent chemotherapy at CARTI. By spring of this year, he was declared to be cancer-free, Betsey says.
"Charlie has been invaluable to our mission for at least the last six or seven years," Presley says. "He's our MVP on many levels."
"It's important to get more women involved in this fight," Betsey explains. "What a lot of men won't talk about, their wives will."
Tickets for the fundraiser are available online at arprostatecancer.org or by phone at (501) 379-8027.
High Profile on 05/29/2016