Take Dad for a Walk this Father’s Day

Hoping for more than a tie this Father’s Day? How about getting the family involved in a good cause? The Father’s Day Walk/Run for Prostate Cancer will be taking place in 15 cities across Canada, from Victoria to Halifax.

Rebecca von Goetz, executive vice president of Prostate Cancer Canada(PCC), says the disease is the most common cancer to afflict Canadian men. “This year alone, it is estimated that 26,500 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and that 4,000 will die,” von Goetz says. According to von Goetz, some of the money raised from the Father’s Day Walk goes to survivorship programs — this could be resources to enhance the lives of people who are just newly diagnosed, or people living with the disease, or spouses or family who are coping with someone who is living with the disease. A percentage of the fundraising also goes to research. 

“We have a research advisory panel that is being formed with 30 prostate researchers from across the country and they are currently working with PCC determining what the research strategy will be and that will be publicized in late June,” von Goetz says.

Van Goetz stresses that, even though it is the most common cancer, the good news in all of this is that 90 per cent of prostate cancer cases are curable if they are detected and treated in their earliest stages.

“That’s why is the PSA test as an early detection tool is so important.”

The PCC advises that men, as of the age of 40, talk to their doctor about their prostate cancer risk and ask about a PSA test. For more info about the walk, or to volunteer or make a pledge, click here.