A Torquay man will tackle 22 kilometres to raise money for prostate cancer research and has already passed his goal.
Brendan Merriman’s campaign is part of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s (PCFA) Perfect Match for Men’s Health Week, running from June 12 to 18.
Mr Merriman said he had raised close to $2700, more than his original goal of $500.
“I’ve done my 22km in very short sprints because I’ve got a broken foot,” he said.
“I’m just doing a walk when I can and I’ve been at it for a couple of weeks now, so I think I’ve done close to 34km now.”
Mr Merriman said he was inspired to raise money for PCFA after losing friends and family to prostate cancer.
“A number of my mates and associates in the last couple of years have either been diagnosed with or died from prostate cancer and one sadly suicided,” he said.
“Three of us went to get ourselves checked within days of each other. One of them has since died of prostate cancer, and the other one had his prostate removed.”
One Australian man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 22 minutes, while 170 men are diagnosed yearly in Torquay and the wider Geelong region.
Mr Merriman said it was important to help raise awareness of the disease and remove the misconceptions surrounding how the cancer is identified, which is through a blood test.
“They don’t actually do a physical examination anymore until your bloods are too high,” he said.
“To help the foundation either publicise and get more information out there to people or do research so we can help reduce the number of men that get prostate cancer, it’ll be a good thing.”
For prostate cancer support and information, call PCFA on 1800 22 00 99 or donate at www.perfectmatch.org.au.
Help is also available through Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support service on 13 11 14.
