BENDIGO landmarks are glowing blue to support Men’s Health Week.
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Ulumbarra Theatre and the conservatory in Rosalind Park have been lit blue for the first time while the Bendigo RSL Memorial Hall and Alexander Fountain are also glowing blue again.
As well as supporting Men’s Health Week’s the blue landmarks also support Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Bendigo District Prostate Cancer Support Group's Neil McDonald said Grant Villers and his team at Power AV had helped light up the theatre.
The awareness campaign began last week with the traditional unfurling of the “undies banner” on the Bendigo Bank building.
Mr McDonald also said there are a number of events that also helped raise awareness for prostate cancer.
This the Ride For Dad event (on Saturday) and the Run for Dad event (on Sunday) would be supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The Fathers’ Day Run For Dad Charity Fun Run will be held at Bendigo Race Course on September 6. The 7.5km runs starts at 10am and the 3.75km walk starts at 10.30am.
There is also a Big Aussie Barbecue events planned for September and a Distinguished Gentleman’s custom car and motorcycle ride planned for September 27.
A Men’s Health Challenge Breakfast being run by Bendigo Community Health Services at Peter Krenz Leisure Centre on Wednesday morning.
“All these things build up and raise awareness, which is what the month is about,” Mr McDonald said.
“It’s about saying ‘hey mate, go and see doctor for a health check’. Guys are the hardest ones to get to doctors.
“Since doing this we have had blokes saying they were they glad to have a health check. People say they’re alright after check and it clears their mind.”
Mr McDonald said he knew of people being diagnosed and treated as young as 42.
“Once upon a time it was if under 50 weren’t ‘old enough’ prostate check,” he said.
“But with guys as young as 42, it’s not an old man’s disease. It was one because it was made that way because men took too long to get check.”
During September, Greyhound Racing Victoria will donate $500 to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia for every dog wins while wearing the blue number 4 vest.
It is estimated that 20,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 3000 will die from it.
Getting tested for prostate cancer involves an ordinary blood test with your local doctor. The disease is easily treatable if detected early.