USA
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
UK / IRE
Kate Gath, Josh Jenkins, Toby McKinnon and Paul Campbell are among the harness racing devotees who will take big strides this September to show support during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Harness Racing Victoria has again launched The Long Trot, part of the foundation’s The Long Run fundraiser, with the aforementioned trio to join the likes of PCFA ambassadors Greg Sugars, David Aiken and Anthony Butt in taking the fight to cancer.
Trots fans and participants are urged to step forward, join The Long Trot and attempt to run, walk, wheel or ride a horse for 72km in September. Those who would prefer to leave their sneakers in the shed can support other entrants, with all funds raised helping the foundation combat prostate cancer.
Anne Savage, CEO of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, commended Victoria’s harness racing community for its five-year partnership to helping save lives.
“Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with each day 66 men diagnosed with the disease and 10 men dying,” Ms Savage said.
“The number of men being diagnosed with prostate cancer is increasing more rapidly than any other type of cancer, and the impact it takes on men’s lives is significant.”
They are statistics that hit home for trainer David Aiken, whose drivers will wear commemorative PCFA silks in September along with reinsmen Sugars and Butt. Each time either of the drivers or an Aiken-trained horse win in September, Harness Racing Victoria will donate $200 to The Long Trot fundraiser.
Last year Aiken revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and he’s now a vocal advocate for early intervention.
“I was a bit ignorant about (prostate specific antigen tests) before, but we just need to get the awareness out there,” Aiken said.
“If I had have waited another two months to get the test I probably would’ve had to go through chemo. It’s a simple blood test and we really need to get it out there that men at a certain age need to get tested regularly every year.”
The foundation recommends men over 50, or over 40 if they have a family history of prostate cancer, should talk to their doctors about getting the simple blood test as part of their regular check-ups.
Aiken, an A. G. Hunter Cup and Inter Dominion winning trainer, said he still faced challenges, with “an increasing PSA count again” that may need treatment.
“I should be okay,” he said. “If I had have got my PSA test earlier it mightn’t of spread, but I’m in really good hands.”
Ms Savage said fundraising through initiatives such as this September’s activity were crucial to helping win the battle.
“We’re aiming to raise $1.7 million through The Long Run for research and support services to help make prostate cancer history,” Ms Savage said.
“We’ve come a long way with survival rates increasing to 95 per cent, but we will not stop until we defeat prostate cancer.
“We are tremendously grateful for the support of the harness racing community and incredibly proud to be giving it all we’ve got.”
