Local Testicular Cancer Survivor Participates in March in Austin, Texas

Andrew Dorbin of Preston, Maryland, testicular cancer survivor and founder of the Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund, recently traveled from the Eastern Shore to Austin, Texas, to take part in the “Check Your NADS” Ball March – a three-mile underwear march in Austin, from South Congress to the Texas State Capitol, to break the stigma surrounding testicular health and encourage monthly self-exams. The event, supporting the Testicular Cancer Awareness Foundation (TCAF) https://www.testicularcancerawarenessfoundation.org/ and partnered with NADS, featured a large group of participants from across the country, including NFL linebacker Alex Singleton.
“I was making this trip solo, representing Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund, to connect with other leaders in the testicular cancer nonprofit community. I was also looking forward to meeting some fellow survivors and doing our part to push awareness forward in a bold, brave way,” states Dorbin.
The Ball March didn’t disappoint. From his arrival and a chance encounter with his Uber driver, also a testicular cancer survivor, the tone of Dorbin’s trip was set, and he knew he was exactly where he needed to be and had found the connection he had been hoping for.
NADS co-founder, Dan Baird, gathered the troops with his opening remarks. It was clear that he and his company fully embraced their commitment to raising awareness for testicular cancer by focusing on men’s health and making organic, non-toxic underwear. He then invited his event co-host, founder and CEO of TCAF, Kim Jones, to say a few words. She shared her gratitude for our participation, donations, and how her experience as a mother who lost her son Jordan to testicular cancer motivated her to form TCAF and raise awareness by promoting the importance of monthly self-exams and early detection. Jones ended her speech by inviting testicular cancer survivor and NFL & Denver Broncos Linebacker, Alex Singleton, to send the group off toward the Capitol building. Singleton shared his experience as a professional athlete being diagnosed and how his TC survivorship has made him an ideal ally and advocate with an international platform of the NFL at his disposal.
“As we stripped down to our NADS underwear, there were smiles of anticipation on everyone’s faces. This was a group of people willing to step outside their comfort zone to get loud and make a difference. Unexpectedly, marching in public wearing only my underwear felt freeing. It forced me to embrace my scars and the imperfect post-cancer body that the testament left me with. I’m a fighter. A winner. A survivor. We all have our own stories and our own journey around being reborn into health and healing, and mine is just beginning,” Dorbin shares.
“In that moment, I felt overwhelmingly encouraged to keep going, to continue to get better, and not to hide who I am right now.”
Dorbin witnessed a range of responses from bystanders on the streets of Austin. Cars were honking, people were cheering, and some pulled out their phones to share footage on social media. Some bystanders laughed while others appeared shocked. Some of the male witnesses said they’d check themselves later that night.
“And just like that, our mission was accomplished. Grassroots awareness that grabs your attention and engages you to react,” Dorbin states.
Throughout the remainder of the march, Dorbin made meaningful connections that will carry forward into the future. One such connection was with Fennec Pharmaceuticals and Jeremy DiCandillo, a fellow testicular cancer survivor and Temple University graduate, as Dorbin is. Fennec is a biotechnology company researching neuro-ototoxicity or hearing loss due to exposure to cisplatin (a key platinum-based drug used in testicular chemotherapy).
“Despite having different backgrounds, being different ages, and growing up in different states, our paths felt definitively aligned,” Dorbin reflects.
“I also connected with Alex Singleton, who clearly realizes that his platform as an NFL player gives him a unique ability to reach young, at-risk men. We swapped surgery stories, both had tested our Beta-hCG numbers at home by peeing on our wives’ pregnancy tests, and realized we had some geographic connections to Ocean City, Maryland, where Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund will be holding its Putts Fore! Nuts 2026 event. As I continued to stockpile these connections, my perception of the world continued to sharpen its focus,” Dorbin adds.
“A few blocks later, I had the chance to spend a few moments with Kim Jones. Her heart, passion for this cause, and her strength in facing the emotional toll of losing her son Jordan were incredibly moving. She is a joy, and I’m impressed by what she has been able to build at TCAF.”
The event showcased the impact of TCAF’s national awareness efforts and the importance of unified voices in men’s health advocacy. For Dorbin, it also reinforced that his fund’s work is rooted in empathy, compassion, and the desire to make a difference.
“Personally, this trip brought a new level of confidence and clarity to the Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund mission. It reaffirmed that what we’re building matters, and that it’s bigger than just our local community on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. There’s a real opportunity ahead for collaboration, shared event promotion, and expanding our reach to larger markets,” he concluded.
To support Wayfinders Testicular Health Fund, or for further information about the 2026 Putts Fore Nuts! 2026 Event, visit www.wayfindersthf.org.