Every once in a rare while, we ladies at The Splendid Word release the shackles on the men in our lives to enjoy a day out with the boys and stoke those all important bonds of mateship.
This leave-pass essentially absolves them from all sense of obligation, guilt and responsibility for an agreed period of time – including work, family-duties and the notoriously long ‘to-do-lists’ we leave for them on enormous whiteboards placed strategically around the home (be honest – we know you do this too).
And it just so happens that today is one of those ‘blue moon’ occasions.
We may (read: will) regret it come midnight (or much, much later) tonight when our darling husbands return home completely pie-eyed.
But we’ll honour our end of the hall-pass deal and turn a very blind eye in this instance, for it’s all in the name of an excellent cause and one worth #spreadingthegoodstuff about.
The fourth annual Echuca Moama Biggest Blokes’ Lunch gets underway at Moama on Murray Resort’s Dungala Centre from midday today – hosting 400 or so men for an afternoon of beers, grub and back yard banter to raise awareness and money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia (PCFA).
The event raised $40,000 in its inaugural year in 2012, $50,000 in 2013, and another $40,000 last year.
Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting will speak at the event, along with impersonator Andrew Startin and urologist Rohan Hall.
The long-lunch not only raises much-needed funds for prostate cancer research, but also gives the men in our lives and in our wider community cause to think about their health and to take responsibility for it.
Big kudos to organiser Dick Phillips and his crew on all their hard work in staging this sensational community event which is raising awareness and dollars for a cause very near to my heart.
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed internal cancer in Australia and is the fourth leading cause of mortality among Australian males.
According to figures released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, some 17,250 men are estimated to be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Of that number around 3,440 are projected to die from the disease.
In 2001, prostate cancer claimed the lives of 2,711 men – fathers, grandfathers, brothers, husbands and sons.
Among that count was my courageous dad – diagnosed at 45 with a six-month life expectancy. Strong as an ox, and with the gutsiest resolve, he smashed that out of the park and made it to 49. The older I get, the younger I realise he was. The pain of losing him so early in my life never eases – I’ve just got used to carrying it around. And it’s a daily reminder to never take life for granted and to live it in the very best way that I can.
So while you’re out there cutting loose today boys and emptying your pockets for this great cause, take a moment to remember the many brave men who have succumbed to this hideous disease, and raise your glasses to the ones fighting the battle of their lives today.
And you know those ‘to-do-lists’? They can wait until tomorrow.
x Lee
#spreadingthegoodstuff
