I started the NOMAN campaign with my sisters Justine and Camille and the overwhelming support of our inaugural

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participants, to increase awareness about the Human Papillomavirus and its connection to men, while creating a unique

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endurance experience designed to represent the struggle and isolation that many cancer patients feel—especially those

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that carry an extremely challenging stigma. Caring for my mother Paulette Isabel Crowther, Justine, Camille and I saw

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how the emotional anxiety of a cancer diagnosis can sometimes be more challenging than the side effects of physical

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treatment. Relying on each other for mutual support along our journey, we worked as a unit to provide Paulette with

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constant care to help her navigate the difficult diagnosis of Stage IV HPV-related anal cancer. When she passed away in

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2010, we were devastated, but Paulette’s incredible spirit spurred us to understand how we could help prevent HPV from

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ending someone’s life early again.





The more we discovered, the more shocked we became:

 

- 80% of people are exposed to HPV at some point in their life.

 

- HPV causes 5% of cancer cases. Cancers caused by HPV are increasing, not decreasing.

 

- Only one new drug to treat any HPV-related cancer has been approved in the past 15 years.

 

​- Two approved vaccines, however, exist. They both protect against the most common cancercausing HPVs.

 

- HPV causes cancer in both men and women. In ten years time, more men than women will suffer from HPV-related

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   cancers in developed countries.

 

- In almost all countries, boys are not provided universal access to HPV vaccines.





 

To achieve our finish-line goal of beating HPV-related cancer, we must work together across genders, populations, and

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institutions. NOMAN illustrates that no-one can fight HPV-related cancers alone, certainly not by targeting one gender in

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isolation when both genders are affected by HPV.  A gender-neutral virus requires a gender-neutral vaccine.

 



"NOMAN is more than a race, it is a call to action."



 

Yours,

 

Tristan Almada

 

Co-Founder, President, HPVAC Foundation