KATIE READY TO HIT THE ROAD FOR CANCER AWARENESS
WALKING 100km in just 30 days sounds like a gruelling endeavour, but a young Townsville woman knows it’s nothing compared with the battle her dad and many other Australian men are fighting.
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is underway and Katie Grice is lacing up her runners to take part in “The Long Run”.
People are encouraged to run, walk or wheel 72km throughout September, but Miss Grice has decided to push her target out to 100km.
Miss Grice’s father, Tony, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July last year at age 65 and is currently going through his second round of chemotherapy treatment.
“Watching anyone, let alone a parent or family member, go through cancer treatment is really difficult,” Miss Grice said.
“There has been so much fluctuation, hospitalisation, fatigue and just general change.
“It really is an emotional rollercoaster.
“It highlights that you need to take every day as it comes, find joy in the small moments, and just generally enjoy time you spend together with loved ones.” One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, a statistic that surprised Miss Grice.
“Since dad’s diagnosis, I’ve opened up and shared about his diagnosis and when you get talking, you begin to realise that so many people are affected,” she said.
“There is a little comfort in knowing we are definitely not alone with this experience.”
Miss Grice said she was looking forward to pushing herself throughout the challenge. “I love getting outdoors for a walk or hike, which is something that dad and I have always enjoyed together,” she said.
“I’m also looking forward to raising more awareness in the community. This is not an easy thing to go through.
“If more people, and more specifically men, are aware of the prevalence of prostate cancer and are more encouraged to get tested frequently, it will increase their chance of beating the disease.”