Members of the Belconnen Bowling Club have held another successful charity day and raised $3,600 for the Prostate Cancer Support Group of the ACT.
The club have been conducting charity days for a number of years. However this is the first time that funds have been donated to a men's organisation and the Prostate Cancer Support Group was chosen as many of the club's members are themselves survivors of prostate cancer.
Each year in Australia over 3,000 men die from prostate cancer, about the same number as women who succumb to breast cancer and, as with breast cancer, early detection and treatment provides the best chances of survival.
"I encourage all men, particularly those over 50, to talk to their GP about the tests that are available for early detection" Mary Porter said.
More information is available by ringing 1800220099 or visiting www.prostate.org.au
Belconnen is one of the few bowling clubs that continues to be independent. Most of the remainder are now controlled by larger club groups.
With over 400 members the club calls on some 70 volunteers to assist the 3 paid staff in the day to day running of the club. Without this support, it is unlikely that the club would continue to operate as an independent entity.
Speaking at the fundraiser Mary Porter, the club's patron, said that she was proud to be associated with a club which has as one of its primary objectives, the need to make a contribution to the community over and above the statutory poker machine levy.
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