This Father's Day, as part of Major League Baseball's Prostate Cancer Foundation's Home Run Challenge, the seventh-inning stretch will be moved to the sixth inning to symbolize that one out of six men in the country will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. In addition, players, managers, coaches, trainers, umpires and groundskeepers will raise awareness and show support by wearing blue wristbands, blue ribbon uniform decals, blue eye glare and temporary blue ribbon tattoos.

"People are starting to age. We're just trying to make sure that people are aware of how important it is to get the message out and have guys talk about it, because as men, sometimes we're reluctant to talk about health issues," states Home Run Challenge spokesperson Ozzie Smith. "Being part of the baby boomers, this falls right into our lap. It's important to at least make an effort to make people more aware of how important it is to get checked. When we talk to them when they're 40 to 45, by the time they get to 50, they'll be ready to take the plunge to get things done."

See, you could take your dad to a ballgame and he could learn all about the need to be screened for prostate cancer without you trying to find a way to work the subject of your dad's prostate into conversation. For some, that conversation might be an easy one to have with dad. But for others, saying "Happy Father's Day and have you thought about your prostate lately," might seem awkward. Does Hallmark even make a card for that conversation? A day at the ballpark seems a clever solution.

Hey U.G.L.Y. Unique. Gifted. Lovable. You., an organization that develops self-esteem building tools for teens, asked celebrities to donate their laughter for a fundraising CD of contagious laughter called Laugh It Off. According to the president of Hey U.G.L.Y. Betty Hoeffner, "We know the healing powers of laughter and how it can improve health and relieve stress." Past research has shown, from a biological standpoint, that laughter and humor do have healing power.

Why a CD of celebrity laughter? "When we saw other charities asking celebrities to donate things like purses, shoes and even bras, we thought celebrities donating their laughter would be a perfect fit," explains Hoeffner. Produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker Rick Erwin, the 60-minute CD and includes the laughter of: Jimmy Neutron voice talent, Debi Derryberry; Emmy-award winning actor/comedian Ben Hollis; JBTV host, Jerry Bryant; and commercial voice talent, Richard Schoen; Saturday Night Live's Tim Kazurinsky; Frank Sinatra's opening act comedian, Tom Dreesen; nationally syndicated radio host, Mancow Muller; and Late Show with David Letterman regular, Bob Sarlatte. One woman wrote Hey U.G.L.Y. that her brother, who has cancer, listens to the CD three times a day and loves it.

Can laughter cure cancer? Not by itself -- but there are numerous studies that show laughter initiates a powerful biological process of feel-good healing chemicals that support and strengthen the immune system. We have done several posts here, here, here, here, here and here about the healing power of humor and the laughter associated with it.

The Paint Box Project, artWORKS for Cancer Cures features a selection of holiday cards and gifts for spring created by Roswell Park's pediatric patient-artists to benefit cancer research and patient care. They offer Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and other occasion cards, as well as chocolates from Choco-Logo. To celebrate spring, you can say Thank You, Thinking of You, Congratulations and Happy Birthday with delightfully original artwork from the creativity of kids of the The Paint Box Project.

You can purchase chocolates like the Bunny’s Nest, the Chocolate Tower, Buffalo Bark chocolate covered pretzels or the Salty Bar. Gifts offered for sale include the Light of Hope soy wax candles, bright and cheerful wrapping paper, colorful spiral journals and an exclusive line of Buffalo-themed cards created by local artist Leslie Zemsky. While you are shopping, be sure to read the patient artists profiles of the children behind this spring's collection of cards. Oh! I love artwork by kids. Hurry, it's almost time for Mother's Day.