Last year, Gabe Canales ‘99 embarked on an ambitious road trip through America – 8,867 miles to raise awareness on men’s health issues. He is advocating for a U.S. Office of Men’s Health.

This is how you, the reader, can help him establish one; by signing his petition and learning more about the data and issues surrounding his cause.

Canales, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago when he was 35, notes that “Men’s mental and physical health issues are something we don’t bring up much — there are shockingly few resources on men’s health that don’t focus on issues outside of low-T, how to bulk up or erectile dysfunction. We are silent on the rest."

In a recent article, Canales cites the CDC’s information that more men than women die from heart disease, cancer, suicide, accidents, diabetes and kidney disease. In fact, men lead women in six of the top 10 leading causes of death.

Sign the Petition: Help Gabe Shine the Light on this Issue

Canales, an international studies alumnus, is no stranger to advocacy. He founded Blue Cure after his diagnosis with cancer to advocate for prostate cancer patients. Blue Cure raises awareness and educates on prevention, risk reduction and improving prostate cancer outcomes through lifestyle interventions and integrative approaches to treatment.

Now, Canales is on a mission to establish a U.S. Office on Men’s Health like the U.S. Office on Women’s Health established in 1991 that would improve men’s health through policy, education and innovative programs. He has reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to petition this change. He is asking for the support of men and women to make this happen in a variety of ways.

On his recent 40-city trip across the country, the media interviewed Canales in multiple locations: NYC, Raleigh, Cleveland, Charlotte, Seattle and Los Angeles. 

“We’re calling on journalists, community leaders, legislators, medical professionals and those who value the lives of their friends and family to shine a light on this cause and acknowledge that men need help and support with their health,” Canales said.

“This is an election year, and we have an opportunity and a responsibility to get our candidates to support a long-overdue Office of Men’s Health. Ask journalists to make this an election issue and ask our candidates to go on record to commit,” he wrote. “Ask your United States Congressperson and Senators to commit. Together, we can make a difference.”