IT’S A BLOKE THING RAISES $1.8 MILLION

ONE of Australia’s biggest charity lunches returned to Toowoomba on Friday, and their decade of fundraising for prostate cancer continued in fine form.

Returning to Wellcamp Airport, the foundation raised $1.8 million to celebrate their tenth year fundraising for prostate cancer research, care and education.

It’s a Bloke Thing Foundation chairman Marcus Barnard said the entire foundation was blown away by the Toowoomba community’s generosity.

“The event was a huge success and to raise a total of $1,806,592 is pretty amazing considering that we’re in the middle of a global health pandemic,” he said.

“The major auction was just phenomenal, and the community was very giving.”

After last year’s lunch was cancelled due to Covid restrictions, Mr Barnard said it was special to come back to Toowoomba where the inaugural It’s a Bloke Thing Prostate Cancer Luncheon was held in 2011.

“We missed it last year so have everyone there support us and have a really good afternoon was fantastic,” he said.

ARIA award-winning Brisbane band Sheppard were the surprise for the afternoon, but Mr Barnard said some rugby league royalty also proved to by hits with the crowd.

“Special guests Brad Thorn and Gary Larson were also really well received and we’re thankful they were able to be a part of this year’s fundraiser,” he said.

“Each year our committee’s objective is to grow awareness of this disease and raise much needed money for research into a cure.

“We aim to educate and encourage men to have regular tests as early detection and treatment are the keys.”