If you’ve noticed people in your town or suburb jogging or exercise-walking with particular purpose this week, it could be because they’re taking part in The Long Run.
It’s not some sort of spring-based fitness challenge, well, not exactly. It’s a nation-wide event that’s raising awareness and funds for the fight against prostate cancer.
Participants aim to walk or run 74km during the month of September and seek donations which go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).
Prostate cancer is currently the most common cancer in Australia and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian men.
Around 72 Aussie men are diagnosed with prostate each day and around 11 die each day from the disease.
With such a high diagnosis rate, most people in the Northern Rivers have a friend, relative or colleague who has been touched by the disease, even if they’re not aware of it.
While stigma surrounding the condition is gradually being broken down, some men remain reluctant to talk about it.
‘The first few weeks after I was diagnosed I didn’t tell anyone,’ local prostate cancer survivor Shane said.
‘Then in September last year, I joined The Long Run, and after that, everyone knew and got behind me, including the team at work.’
‘My message is, get checked, get in front of it, and help us get the message out there. You just never know whose life you might save’.
Visit www.thelongrun.org.au to register, or visit www.prostate.org.au.
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