An interesting breakfast conversation
Last week sausages, eggs, toast and more filled the tummies of men - but it wasn’t the usual tradies’ breakfast.
It was an event to raise money and awareness for Blue September - prostate cancer national awareness month.
‘‘A lot of people don’t realise, because it’s not put out there, there is a one per cent difference between the number of people who die per year from prostate cancer, compared to breast cancer,’’ Aletta Lovell said. ‘‘The statistics are huge.’’
Lovell is the site manager for PlaceMakers Ha¯wera, which hosted the tradesmen’s breakfast.
She said statistics like that mentioned previously remind her why it’s important to back Blue September.
‘‘We’re in an environment where we’re dealing with men all the time,’’ Lovell said. ‘‘It’s a great charity for us to get involved with and every year we have our Blue September fundraiser.’’
The free breakfast was accompanied by a silent auction to raise money for the cause. District nurses also attended to start prostate-related conversations.
A district nurse and a nurse from an oncology unit shared statistics that Lovell said got many reactions from the tradies.
‘‘It’s interesting talking to the guys afterwards about it and they said, ‘it’s not talked about. Somewhere along the line of conversation breast cancer will pop up, but prostate doesn’t pop up’’,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s not publicised.’’
Lovell said the Blue September fundraiser was always had a good turn out.
The event’s purpose was to educate tradies on prostate cancer and remind them get themselves checked early and regularly. Similar events are held in all 58 PlaceMakers stores around New Zealand.
PlaceMakers is the principal sponsor Blue September and has raised over $480,000 in the past three years. The money raised helps research projects, support services for survivors and their families and year-round education campaigns.
Bruce McEwen, PlaceMakers General Manager, said the company was enthusiastic about getting stuck into raising as much money as possible for the cause.
‘‘There’s bound to be a fair few men, and their families, in Taranaki who are struggling with this terrible cancer right now, and that’s exactly why we are getting behind this very important cause,’’ McEwen said.