George Sterry-Macdonald who works at our Barnes Hill Branch in the accounts department has been running for four years now and ran the London Marathon in 2008 in 3 hours 34 minutes. This year he is planning to complete both the London Marathon and the Edinburgh Marathon.

 

Mutual support for men suffering from prostate cancer is the most important aim of this group. For any man to be told he has prostate cancer can be frightening and very distressing, but to join a group of nearly four hundred healthy looking men, nearly all of whom have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and in some cases many years ago, can give vital support. Consultant Urological Surgeons can advise various treatments or control of prostate cancer and patients frequently ask for details of the treatments advised. Specialists will explain treatments and possible complications and after effects as best they can but if they wish newly diagnosed members can be directed to other members of the group who have had treatment ( hormone adjustment, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy radical surgery, H.I.F.U. or Cryotherapy ) and are only too happy to discuss their experiences.

Members are invited to bring along their wives, partners or interested friends to the quarterly meetings at Kidderminster Town Hall where a guest speaker is invited. Frequently such speaker will address a particular aspect of prostate cancer

( new treatments, diet, alternative medicine, research, etc ) but guest speakers have included “celebrities” from the world of sport, entertainment, politics, etc. meetings are semi- formal and members are invited to meet fellow members over light refreshments; the bar is usually open and there is a regular raffle. Any member who would like to attend but has transport difficulties can contact a committee member and transport will be arranged. In addition to the quarterly meetings regular event are arranged so that members can meet socially. These included golf tournaments, coach trips, “bluebell” walks, a Christmas Carol concert, garden parties, concerts and coffee mornings.

All these events are advertised in our three monthly newsletter which also has reprints from the press about prostate cancer, personal histories, humorous anecdotes, etc. All members are invited to contribute.

Ladies who have lost husbands to prostate cancer are invited to join the Widows Support Group ( see separate page ) having been counselled by our Specialist Nurse and the leader of the Widows Group.

2 Awareness of men’s health

This is also an important part of the aims of this group. This falls largely to the President Mr D.C. Baxter-Smith a Consultant Urological Surgeon, who is occasionally assisted in this role by guest speakers. The President regularly speaks to men’s groups ( Rotary Clubs, The Round Table, Golf Clubs, The Lions, Probus., ) about men’s health with particular emphasis on disease of the Prostate. In addition to telling men about symptoms they can expect from prostate disease, men over the age of 50 ( 45 if they have a close relative who has suffered from prostate cancer ) are advised to have annual PSA estimations.

3 Fund raising

This is the least important of the three defined aims of this group. A one off payment fee of £5.00 will entitle a member to a life-times membership. Funds are maintained by donations, bequests, and fund raising activities such as the annual golf tournament, and as a Registered Charity monies donated via the Gift Aid scheme enables to group to reclaim funds from the Inland Revenue. The accounts are subject to a regular annual audit.