According to the American Cancer Society, one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. During 2015, it estimates that 27,540 will have died due to the disease.

Erik Wilkins of Efficient Results Fitness and Nutrition, LLC set out to spread awareness of this disease.

Wilkins says men will often look to the health of their families while ignoring their own.

“Often we see in the life insurance commercials, it’s always the men who died first.  We need to come together as men and take care of one another,” he said.

Not just for themselves, Wilkins says, but for their families as well.

“They need your support, but they can’t get our support if you’re not there. As men we need to take care of ourselves,” Wilkins said.

To raise awareness, Wilkins has organized the first annual Efficient Results Prostate Awareness 5K Walk/10K Run. It will be held at 8:30 Saturday morning and will start at the Chamber of Commerce in downtown Brookhaven. Medals will be given to first, second and third place winners.

According to Wilkins, such an event for prostate cancer has not been held before in Brookhaven, and setting it up was a challenge.

“I’d like to thank the people in Brookhaven for getting this out. This is something I’ve never done before. It was not easy. But the people of Brookhaven made it easy for me,” Wilkins said.

Money raised at the event will go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, an organization that helps to fund prostate cancer research and cancer centers. Wilkins’ hope is that the event will be successful enough to be held for years to come.