Tri-Cities Prostate Cancer Support Group looks to raise money for research at Father’s Day Walk Run
He’ll be there – partly because he might not be here without it.
This Sunday, Ron Stubbings plans to support the Father’s Day Walk Run in Burnaby, a fundraising event by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Canada.
This is personal to Stubbings, who has incurable prostate cancer. He said he’s seen how research that this run raises money for can save lives.
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He said he “probably would not be here,” without it.
“It’s not curable, but it’s getting more and more controlled,” Stubbings said.
He’s the chair of the Tri-Cities Prostate Cancer Support Group, a volunteer-run group that hosts two monthly meetings (one hybrid, one online) to provide support for people with prostate cancer and for their spouses or partners.
The group has a team participating in the race, called ‘pain in the ass.’ They are one of the top fundraising teams participating, with a goal to raise $10,000. At the time of publication, they’ve raised almost $6,500.
This run is important for not only raising money, but also raising awareness and support for prostate cancer, said Stubbings.
“A lot of people, they’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the men suffer alone,” he said.
He added that early detection of prostate cancer is important, noting it can be curable if caught early enough.
This is also part of the reason the Tri-Cities Prostate Cancer Support Group has its twice-monthly meetings.
“We’re supporting you, we’re there. We understand. We’re not embarrassed to talk about anything — we’ve been there, we’ve done that,” he said.
At their hybrid meeting, he said they have a speaker either via zoom or in person, to talk about different aspects of prostate cancer, like radiology, nutrition, incontinence, impotence, and much more. They then have an opportunity to sit in a circle and share their experiences.
At the run there are two and five kilometre walking options, and a 10 kilometre timed run. Those participating in the walk and run register, it costs $50 for those 13 and up.
The Burnaby Lake event is scheduled to take place from 8:15 a.m. to noon.
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