Dannevirke: Stepping out to help cancer cause

Charlotte Kelly (left) and Julie Davis were registering walkers and runners for Dannevirke's first Blue September fundraiser on Sunday morning. Photos / Christine McKay

Dannevirke's first Blue September fundraising fun run and walk raised awareness and more than $500 for prostate cancer research.

Organised by Leah Kelly-Frith, of the Natural Funeral Co, the event attracted 85 people, despite a chilly Sunday morning.

"I'm just rapt with the turnout and, hopefully, it'll be bigger and better next year," Leah said.

"For a small community to support this first event in such a big way has impressed the people at Prostate Cancer Foundation.

"Those who braved the cold weather were there because they wanted to do their bit for the cause and to learn guys in their 30s and 40s are being diagnosed with prostate cancer is scary, so hopefully we're raising awareness."

Hoane Carroll was walking to support his cousin, who's battling prostate cancer.

"He's my cuzzie, but just like a bro and he's only 27," he said.

"My family is riddled with prostate cancer and I just wanted to come today to do something for the cause.

"If my cuzzie can go through his pain, then I can go through the pain today."

Hoane only began training for the event a month ago and is determined to keep fit and lose weight.

Father and son Logan and Raymond Tyler were supporting Blue September.

The 5km fun run and walk took in the Adelaide block and, while participants were braving the cold at the start of the event, they were trying to beat a torrential downpour later in the morning.

"It's been a wonderful turnout," Leah said. "I wanted to do this because there's so much support for the pink ribbon cause, but it's important to raise awareness and money for the guys too."

Prostate cancer facts

• In New Zealand, prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer in men, with 3000 registered as having the disease each year.

• Every year more than 600 New Zealand men die from prostate cancer.

• One in 10 New Zealand men will develop the disease in their lifetime.

• Many of these deaths could be prevented by early detection and a healthy lifestyle.

• Men with a family history of prostate cancer have a higher risk, that is, if the father, an uncle or a brother has had prostate cancer.

• Doctors do not know what causes prostate cancer. They do know, however, that the growth of cancer cells in the prostate is stimulated by male hormones, especially testosterone.