Ballarat’s blokes fundraising for men’s health

PROSTATE cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in Australia, with approximately Three thousand five hundred dying from it each year.

More men die of prostate cancer than women die of breast cancer, yet it lags behind in getting the message out.

Ballarat’s Biggest EVER Blokes Lunch aims to help spread the word about prostate cancer and men’s health in general.

Ballarat’s businessmen have enjoyed lunch with their mates while raising over $350,000 for the cause over the past nine years.

“We think we will have a lot of money to donate this year due to all the efforts so far,” Nick Thurlbeck, BBEBL committee member said.

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.

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’s health.

“As 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,” Mr Thurlbeck said.

“Men’s health is an area that is often forgotten and neglected in so many ways.”

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.

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.

“The 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,” Mr Thurlbeck said.

“As this year’s lunch is a sell-out make a note in your calendar for the first Friday in September next year so you don’t miss out on this worthwhile cause while attending a great lunch,” he said.

Ballarat men’s health organisations can contact BBEBL Chair, David Gordon from Ballarat Custom Homes to register their interest via email at bbebl@outlook.com.