AN annual event aimed at raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer is back for the eleventh time.<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch will return in August in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.<\/p>\n
Event manager Eliza Hopkinson said it\u2019s important to keep the conversation going about men\u2019s health in the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cBallarat has a real focus on men\u2019s health with high suicide rates and that sort of thing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMen\u2019s health is a prominent issue in the region, however men probably don\u2019t have many platforms where they can speak candidly so that\u2019s what this is.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can have a beer in a casual environment and talk about any issues they may have.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seven Network\u2019s Hamish McLachlan will be keynote speaker for the event, joined by comedian Mike Goldstein, and CEO of youth non-profit The Reach Foundation, Fergus Watts.<\/p>\n
The menu will be prepared by The Mildura Grand Hotel\u2019s executive chef Jay Upul Perera.<\/p>\n
The event has been taking place locally since 2011 after the lunch was first served in 2009 in Shepparton by Chris McPherson following a prostate cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Since then, the Ballarat event has raised more than $500,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, and supported non-profits like MND Victoria, the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre, and Ballarat Men’s Mental Health.<\/p>\n
Nearly $100,000 was raised from last year\u2019s event alone.<\/p>\n
About 400 spots have been filled out of the event\u2019s 520 vacancies and Ms Hopkinson said having Mr McLachlan as the main speaker is a step up for the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had well-known identities in the past but probably not to the level that Hamish is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s bringing the event a lot more life and excitement. A lot of our previous speakers would be someone who\u2019d come to sportsmen\u2019s nights where Hamish probably hasn\u2019t been seen in Ballarat before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat\u2019s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch will take place from 12pm on Friday 25 August and to book a table visit bit.ly\/43ZByUi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AN annual event aimed at raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer is back for the eleventh time. Ballarat\u2019s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch will return in August in support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Event manager Eliza Hopkinson said it\u2019s important to keep the conversation going about men\u2019s health in the region. \u201cBallarat […]<\/p>\n