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January 17, 2008
This Saturday, Lakehead University Thunderwolves Hockey will
team up with Regional Cancer Care and the Northern Cancer
Research Foundation (NCRF) to promote men’s health during
one of the biggest games of the Wolves’ season.
One in six men will develop prostate cancer during their
lifetime. Saturday’s game will feature an awareness
campaign aimed at men age 50 and over, to get them thinking
about their prostate health and taking steps to prevent cancer.
Hitting the ice against the Windsor Lancers, the Wolves will
play in unique jerseys that will be auctioned off in a silent
auction during the game. Winning bidders will receive the
jerseys on the ice after the game and have their picture taken
with the players.
Jason Mallon, Executive Director for Lakehead Thunderwolves
Hockey said “Thunderwolves Hockey games are an excellent
way to create prostate cancer awareness and this unique event
will help encourage our fans to take the next step in noticing
the signs of prostate cancer.”
There will also be a special guest dropping the first puck
of the game: the star of the campaign, Prostate Man.
Prostate Man is the everyman. He’s over 50, but young
at heart. He’s still sporting the uniform, but there’s
a little more spread around the waist and a little less hair
on top. Like many men over 50, he’s also taking a closer
look at his health, particularly his prostate health.
At Saturday’s game, he will be encouraging men to ‘Take
it Like a Man’ and talk to their doctor about prostate
cancer, and to ‘Get in the Game’ because being
active and living a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk
for cancer.
Alison McMullen, Director of Preventive Oncology for Regional
Cancer Care, said community partners like the Lakehead University
Thunderwolves are essential in promoting cancer prevention
messages.
“In Canada, prostate cancer is the most frequently
diagnosed cancer in men. In Thunder Bay, the incidence of
prostate cancer is expected to rise by 67 per cent by 2014.
We need to reinforce the message to men that you should be
talking to your doctor about prostate cancer if you are over
50, and you can reduce your risk for cancer by staying active,
eating right and living smoke free. What better venue to promote
those messages, than at a hockey game?” she said.
Prostate cancer awareness campaigns have been a priority
for Regional Cancer Care and the NCRF because of high incidence
rates and the increased ability to treat the disease when
found early.
“It’s not easy to talk about prostate cancer,”
said Brian McKinnon, Chair of the Board of Directors, NCRF.
“Prostate Man is a great campaign to get men over 50
talking about their health and living an active, healthy lifestyle.”
The NCRF is 100% Northern – all funds raised support
cancer research, patient care and education and awareness
here in Northwestern Ontario.
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