By Ron Lane
When I first heard it I found it hard to believe. More men died from prostate cancer then women died of breast cancer; but now all indications are that it is true. For some reason it seems that the press or those responsible have never dug right in to push the matter and organize more support to assist those medical teams who, at times must feel like a voice in the male wilderness.
However with men now starting to discuss their health problems over a beer with their mates like never before, that old image of strong silent male is starting to lose its glow: it is now time to push that major factor of self-awareness
Some say that knowledge is power but in this case for the ill-informed male, knowledge can be life.
Within the boundaries of this great community a group of men some of whom we could call survivors, have banded together and now started what could be known as the Awareness Movement – awareness of the fact that if found early it can be beat and awareness of that age old problem, financial support to our research teams
Two local men John Little and Don Stallmen (and there are others) who have concerned themselves with both these problems are addressing the matter of finance from an angle that can only be described as different. To create financial interest they have organized a group of five people, themselves plus three friends, Wendy Cochrane, Peter Bell and Michael Walsh, to team up and hike the Jatbula Trail.
The Trail which is located in the Nitmiluk National Park and follows the western edge of the Arnhem Land Escarpment is a 62 km hike with an expected walking time of 5-6 days. From this they are hoping to achieve two things. The first is to be able to say they have walked the Jatbula Trail and second and perhaps most important is to arouse enough interest in this cause that people will come forward as sponsors, “with all monies going straight to the research teams.”
For John there is also another personal interest. Some time ago he discovered that his great grandfather Jack Little had walked the track back in 1870 while working as a foreman on the Adelaide to Darwin Overlander Telegraph. However this desire was delayed by a few health problems, a pacemaker, dodgy back and two knee replacements. ‘’Twelve months ago I could hardly walk and was flat out carrying 2kg. Now its 14 kg and I am hiking three hours, bike riding and swimming; so now it’s all stations go.”
The sponsorship is also starting to happen. So far they have received $9300 and the Katmandu Adventure stores have outfitted the team with gear ranging from hats through to backpacks to the extent of $3000. In the words of team mate Don Stallman, “Every dollar counts.” To donate visit give.everydayhero.com/au/john-little-s-prostate-crusade and read all about it. It is a big walk for a worthy cause and it is our people that are doing it. We wish them God speed
