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by JENNY MONROE
Gareth Orr
has joined Northern Ireland
sporting heroes this week to
encourage Northern Ireland
men to 'Get A Grip' as part
of a local cancer charity
campaign.
A MAGHABERRY man is encouraging local males
to 'Get A Grip' as part of a local cancer charity campaign.
Gareth Orr, 26, is only too pleased to help
Action Cancer launch their annual Action Man Campaign this
month, encouraging men to become more proactive with their
health in a bid to reduce incidences of cancer and save lives.
Gareth was diagnosed with testicular cancer
in 2004 and is glad to be able to help support the campaign.
And he admitted men's low embarrassment
threshold often means they put off going to the doctor, even
when they suspect something is wrong.
"Through embarrassment and denial I put off
going to the GP and was eventually forced to due to the pain I
was in" he said.
"If I had left it another two or three weeks
I would only have had a 50/50 chance of survival so I would
encourage people to go immediately to their GP "Thankfully I
survived and was extremely fortunate to have a son less than a
year ago so it doesn't have to be as bad as you perhaps imagine
- the important thing is to act immediately."
Geraldine Kerr, Head of Professional Services
with Action Cancer said: "Late detections have an impact on
survival rates so our Action Man Campaign is important in trying
to change the mindset.
"We would encourage men and influential
female family members to 'Get A Grip' - visit the Action Cancer
website, download the information leaflets and mark Men's Health
Month by booking a male MOT onboard our Big Bus."
A tag rugby fundraising event, as part of the
Action Man Campaign, will help the charity get the message out
among males and encourage a healthy lifestyle which can help to
prevent cancer. The charity is currently taking in applications
for teams for the tournament which takes place on July 26 and
will involve 24 teams with seven players and a maximum of five
substitutes. Each participant will be handed a goody bag which
will also include Information leaflets on prostate and
testicular cancer.
| FACT: Action Cancer offer MOT health checks for
men, a comprehensive assessment measuring skin
analysis, cholesterol, blood pressure, lung capacity
and Body Mass Index. It also offers advice and
information on male specific cancers, self
examination and lifestyle changes which could
prevent 80% of cancers. Anyone interested in
obtaining a MOT appointment or applying for the Tag
Rugby event should call 028 9080 3344. |
jenny.monroe@jpress.co.uk
Ulster Star
13/06/2008
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