Prostate cancer fundraiser

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month and Member for Barker Tony Pasin is once again holding his Big Aussie BBQ with the Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group in a continued effort to raise awareness and funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. This marks the ninth year of the BBQ being held at Tony Pasin’s Commercial Street East office, raising thousands of dollars in funding for the cause.

“Every September since 2015, I’ve held a Big Aussie BBQ to support our local Prostate Cancer Support Group and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia raise funds and awareness,” Mr Pasin said.

More than 24,000 men in Australia are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Prostate cancer kills more men than breast cancer women, yet awareness of these deadly statistics remains relatively low. In 2014 Mr Pasin attended the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s Big Aussie Barbie at Parliament House, Canberra.

“It was at that BBQ in 2014 that the startling facts about the diagnosis and death rate of prostate cancer were made plain to me – it is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men,” Mr Pasin said.

“The following year I decided to hold a Big Aussie BBQ in Mount Gambier and got the local Prostate Cancer Support Group on board. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have raised thousands of dollars for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. But most importantly, we’ve had hundreds of conversations over the BBQ over the years and if just one of those conversations led to an early diagnosis that saved a life – it’s all worth it.”

Mr Pasin thanked local businesses, Bakers Delight Commercial Street, Shelton’s Butchers and Coates Hire who he said were instrumental in making the BBQ possible. He also thanked Key2Sale, who had kicked the fundraising efforts with a generous $500 dollar donation already in the kitty.

The 2023 Mount Gambier Big Aussie BBQ will be held on Wednesday, September 20, from 11.30am at Tony Pasin’s office, 27 Commercial Street East, Mount Gambier. “I encourage community members to leave your lunch at home and enjoy a snag and a chat. You’ll be supporting a great cause,” Mr Pasin said. Anyone unable to attend on the day but wanting to donate can do so online at www. bigaussiebarbie.com.au/fundraisers/tonypasinmp543