A day to promote prostate cancer awareness conducted by SRV Roadfreight Services has been hailed a success following a large turnout at the company’s Ormeau headquarters at the weekend.
The day, organised by SRV Fleet Compliance Manager Melanie Cosgrove working closely with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, was aimed at making people in the road transport industry aware of the real threat posed by prostate cancer within the ranks of truck drivers and other men in trucking, as well as raising funds for research.
The day offered a variety of entertainment for families to have them become involved with live music, children’s activities, a truck show and shine competition, hot rod and motorcycle displays and an auction and raffles to raise funds for the Foundation.
Available figures reveal prostate cancer diagnoses doubled from 10,113 in 1998 to 20,750 in 2008. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates by 2020 the number of prostate cancers diagnosed in Australia will be somewhere between 25,000 and 31,000. Prostate cancer deaths are second only to lung cancer as the most common cause of cancer deaths in men.
Melanie Cosgrove organised the awareness day to help raise awareness and according to Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Qld Manager, Graham Higgs, who was on site on the day to provide information the event was a huge success.
“This has been a marvellous day and it is very encouraging to see the number of men who were keen to gain further information on the disease,” said Higgs. “I would say all of the men went home with booklets and other informative brochures to give them a real idea of the prevalence of prostate cancer, plus how simple tests can be a real lifesaver.”
Higgs is a mechanical engineer by trade, took on the judging of the show and shine competition and exhibited a real passion for trucks as he did so. A long list of sponsors supported the awareness day with a range of products and services to be auctioned, including a trip for two to Melbourne to tour the Kenworth plant donated by Paccar. On the day $5000 was raised to assist research.
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