Five-hour long lunch for blokes’ health

TICKETS have gone on sale ahead of the 14th edition of the region’s Biggest Ever Blokes’ Lunch that raises funds to tackle prostate cancer.

The large annual men’s dining event is set for Friday 4 September at the Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre.

In the lead-up, organisers say that based on prior events they expect 450 to 500 people will rock up for lunch on the day.

It aims to raise funds and increase awareness of prostate cancer to reduce the impact on Australian men, their partners and families.

A spokesperson for the upcoming event said that besides the large lunch itself, blokes who grab themselves a ticket and get along can expect updates from Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, entertaining guest speakers, raffles, auctions and other fundraising activities.

And the lunch is nothing if not lengthy, with those who roll up for it invited to settle in for five hours of food, drink and entertainment. “Comic legend, Troy Kinne, will join us as MC and keynote speaker,” the spokesperson said.

“The man, the myth, the moustache, cricketing icon Boonie will share some stories, and author, journalist and prostate cancer fighter Tim Baker will share his journey.”

Reasons to support the lunch are compelling, as is the wisdom in getting an early diagnosis, the Biggest Ever Blokes’ Lunch spokesperson said.

“There are 1,392 men in this region who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and an estimated 132 men in the region will be newly diagnosed this year,” he said.

“Men in the Ballarat region have a 12 per cent lower risk of diagnosis compared to the population average, and they have have a 44 per cent increased risk of death compared to the population average.

“Only 15 per cent of men in the Ballarat region are diagnosed at Stage 1, when the prospects for survival are the strongest.”

More details and bookings are through the Biggest Ever Blokes’ Lunch Ballarat website.