Walking for awareness of prostate cancer

[RickParkes]

In November 2009 I was subjected to a radical prostatectomy as cancer had
developed in my prostate. I was lucky as I had awareness of this
disease and had been tracking my PSA for many years. So far all is
successful and the cancer beaten and my fitness has returned. Many men
are not as lucky as 3,300 die of this nasty cancer every year in
Australia. Each day 32 more men are diagnosed and 1 in 9 men will
develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. I also am aware that many
men do not take this seriously and there is a lack of awareness in our
society especially when compared with woman’s breast cancer.

My “Pilgrims Walk for Prostate Cancer” will take me to Spain where I
intend to walk the Camino from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago,
starting on September 22nd 2010.

As my major interest over the last twenty years has been trekking and
climbing I decided to take this journey, one, as of saying thanks to
“life” and being alive, two to raise money for prostate cancer research
and three to increase awareness so men make sure they understand that
regular testing is required, and if caught early can prevent death, or
slow down the effects from this cancer.

Rick Parkes

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Congratulations on your recovery. A worthy cause indeed - 10,000 men die of this type of cancer in the UK every year.

Let us know how your plans progress.

 

[Jacki Dufty]

Hi Rick,
I did a walk for prostate cancer awareness through central Queensland in 2006 - 600 kms in 15 days. And I haven't even got one! Last year my husband and I walked the Frances. Wonderful.
Good onya.
Jacki.

 

[skilsaw]

Great news to hear of your recovery, and good health.
Men don't speak of their health risks... perhaps it threatens their culture of being strong and invincible. You will have the oportunity to talk to lots of men, one on one, about your experience, and maybe motivate some to be checked regularly.

I just read the journal of a firefighter who battled prostate cancer earlier this decade, and in 2006 rode his bike across Canada, visiting fire stations in every town and talking to the men about the risk. He had wonderful organizers who notified the fire stations ahead of time and they had celebratory breakfast or evening barbecues when he passed through. Firefighters are an amazing fraternity.

The man's latest entry in his blog is about the cancer returning after 5 years of respite. A very sad chapter, but hopefully not the conclusion to the story.

God bless you on your pilgrimage,
and may you touch many lives along the way.

David, Victoria, Canada.