PROSTATE cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia, with approximately Three thousand five hundred dying from it each year.<\/p>\n
More men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer, yet it lags behind in getting the message out.<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Biggest EVER Blokes Lunch aims to help spread the word about prostate cancer and men\u2019s health in general.<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s businessmen have enjoyed lunch with their mates while raising over $350,000 for the cause over the past nine years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think we will have a lot of money to donate this year due to all the efforts so far,\u201d Nick Thurlbeck, BBEBL committee member said.<\/p>\n
Twenty supporter tables worth $2500 (with $1000 donated directly to charities) were pre-sold before tickets went on sale on Monday with the rest of the tables sold out in three hours.<\/p>\n
Fifty percent of all monies raised goes to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia while the remaining half will be distributed to Ballarat organisations specialising in men\u2019s health.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a committee we are working very hard to try and understand who it is that we can support in Ballarat with the proceeds from the lunch,\u201d Mr Thurlbeck said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMen\u2019s health is an area that is often forgotten and neglected in so many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n
Men who maintain social groups are less likely to suffer from depression caused by worries about money and job insecurity according to a study conducted by University of Oxford in the UK.<\/p>\n
The research found benefits of strong male friendships include a stronger immune system, the release of endorphins, an overall decrease in anxiety levels, and (apparently) even higher levels of generosity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe afternoon covers a raft of topics that is often almost taboo for men to talk about and it is set up in a way that they may hear something confronting which will hopefully open up meaningful conversations about uncomfortable things,\u201d Mr Thurlbeck said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs this year\u2019s lunch is a sell-out\u00a0make a note in your calendar for the first Friday in September next year so you don\u2019t miss out on this worthwhile cause while attending a great lunch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n