RENTON, Wash. — To help raise awareness for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, high school football officials throughout Washington state will trade in their yellow penalty flags for blue penalty flags during varsity games this weekend.

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness month and the Washington Officials Association will use the blue penalty flags for the second consecutive season.

The Washington Officials Association will begin using the blue flags Thursday night and conclude using the blue flags after Saturday night’s football games, stated Washington Officials Association Commissioner Todd Stordahl.

“This is a great way for officials to participate in an activity that will help bring awareness to something that has had an impact on many lives including some of those who are out on the field as officials,” stated Stordahl on approving the use of blue flags.

The Washington Officials Association’s decision was intended to bring awareness to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and not detract away from Washington high school student-athletes, Stordahl states. 

“In most situations, officials want to avoid attention during games, but for three days we are hoping to attract a little attention with every penalty that is called,” he stated. “By switching to blue flags, it will at least make the fans notice that something is different.”

According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer affects one in six men and is the most common non-skin cancer in the United States.

“In 2009, more than 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 27,000 men will die from the disease,” according to the Web site. “It is estimated that there are more than two million American men currently living with prostate cancer.”

For more information, visit the Prostate Cancer Foundation Web site at www.prostatecancerfoundation.org.