CINCINNATI (AP) – NASCAR driver Ryan Newman and retired baseball star Cal Ripken Jr. are among those who will be talking about prostate cancer in a new program by Gillette Co.

Newman, joined by five other drivers, will act as spokesman for the program at this weekend’s Daytona 500.

Gillette, along with the National Prostate Cancer Coalition and Prostate Cancer Foundation, will soon have vans for free prostate cancer screenings and information at major events around the country. The campaign also will include televised public service announcements, including one featuring Ripken that will air during baseball games.

The prostate is a gland that produces fluid for semen. About 232,000 U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and about 30,000 will die from it.

Gillette spokesman Eric Kraus said the company, owned by Procter & Gamble Co., doesn’t release dollar figures for such efforts.

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On the Net:

Gillette Prostate Cancer Challenge web site: www.gillettepcc.org

National Prostate Cancer Coalition: www.pcacoalition.org

National Prostate Cancer Foundation: www.prostatecancerfoundation.org