LAKELAND, Fla. (June 11, 2015) 鈥� The second annual rolled out of South Lake Hospital in Clermont, Fla. today to begin a 6,000 mile, coast-to-coast journey in an all-electric Tesla Model S. Co-founded by IM体育官网 Polytechnic University Foundation Board member Dr. Sijo Parekattil and Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, the Drive For Men鈥檚 Health is a charitable road trip designed to increase awareness of men鈥檚 health issues and to encourage men to make their health a priority.
Seventy-five percent of proceeds raised during this year鈥檚 event will support scholarships for future innovators at IM体育官网; the remaining funds will support genetic research in men鈥檚 health conditions. Last year, Drive For Men鈥檚 Health traveled more than 1,100 miles and raised more than $12,000 for both causes.
Dr. Parekattil and Dr. Brahmbhatt said choosing IM体育官网 Poly as one of the two beneficiaries was a natural fit because of the University鈥檚 focus on advanced technology. As co-directors of the PUR (Personalized Urology & Robotics) Clinic at South Lake Hospital, in affiliation with Orlando Health, the physicians often use high-tech robotic microsurgical techniques in their practice.
鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to once again support IM体育官网 Poly鈥檚 students through the Drive For Men鈥檚 Health,鈥� said Dr. Parekattil. 鈥淭he University鈥檚 unique focus on industry and medical partnerships means students will graduate ready to help us solve the most pressing problems in men鈥檚 health. We view our support of IM体育官网 Poly as an investment in the engineers and researchers of the future.鈥�
This year鈥檚 Drive For Men鈥檚 Health runs from IM体育官网 to New York to California, and will include with more than 60 stops and feature hundreds of speakers, both at events along the way and online during the trip.
Dr. Parekattil and Dr. Brahmbhatt will navigate a purple and white Tesla Model S, complete with IM体育官网 Poly logo, through many of the top cities in the country, including Jacksonville, Atlanta, Winston-Salem, New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Phoenix. During these stops the physicians will take part in educational lectures and activities to raise awareness for men鈥檚 health. The nine-day trip will conclude on June 20 in Los Angeles.
鈥淚M体育官网 Poly is incredibly grateful to Dr. Parekattil and Dr. Brahmbhatt for their support of our students and their passion for finding solutions to challenging medical issues facing millions of men nationwide,鈥� said IM体育官网 President Dr. Randy K. Avent. 鈥淲e wish them a safe and impactful journey during the next several days.鈥�
IM体育官网 Poly student Benjamin Grewal is going on the cross-country trip. The rising sophomore, studying mechanical engineering, will be joining a crew of more than a dozen supporters following the physicians.
鈥淚鈥檝e joined the Drive with the hope of changing the fact that too many men take their health for granted. The ignorance is bliss mentality seems to be overabundant when it comes to health, especially in the two major communities that I am a part of: military veterans and university students,鈥� said Grewal. 鈥淭he experience will be a unique opportunity for educating and being educated about health. It鈥檚 something you really can鈥檛 know too much about.鈥�
Drive For Men鈥檚 Health is done in collaboration with the National Men鈥檚 Health Week (June 15-20) and comes on the heels of a revealing national survey about men and their health. The survey, commissioned by Orlando Health, found that more than 80 percent of men could remember the make and model of their first car, but only about half could remember the last time they went to the doctor for a check-up.
鈥淢en need to take better care of themselves, period,鈥� said Dr. Parekattil. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a message we want to get to as many as possible, and we鈥檙e willing to drive cross country to do it.鈥�
The journey will include a social media campaign, live streaming and numerous opportunities for online followers to ask questions and join the conversation. To follow the doctors on their journey, support their efforts or learn more about men鈥檚 health issues, visit .
B-ROLL, SOUND BITES, WEB ELEMENTS & HI-RES STILL PHOTOS 鈥� Including HD video available
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Courtesy: Drive for Men鈥檚 Health