Cancer Care Teams with Thunderwolves Hockey

This Saturday, Lakehead University Thunderwolves Hockey will team up with Regional Cancer Care and the Northern Cancer Research Foundation (NCRF) to promote men’s health during one of the biggest games of the Wolves’ season.

One in six men will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Saturday’s game will feature an awareness campaign aimed at men age 50 and over, to get them thinking about their prostate health and taking steps to prevent cancer.

Hitting the ice against the Windsor Lancers, the Wolves will play in unique jerseys that will be auctioned off in a silent auction during the game. Winning bidders will receive the jerseys on the ice after the game and have their picture taken with the players.

Jason Mallon, Executive Director for Lakehead Thunderwolves Hockey said “Thunderwolves Hockey games are an excellent way to create prostate cancer awareness and this unique event will help encourage our fans to take the next step in noticing the signs of prostate cancer.”

There will also be a special guest dropping the first puck of the game: the star of the campaign, Prostate Man.

Prostate Man is the everyman. He’s over 50, but young at heart. He’s still sporting the uniform, but there’s a little more spread around the waist and a little less hair on top. Like many men over 50, he’s also taking a closer look at his health, particularly his prostate health.

At Saturday’s game, he will be encouraging men to ‘Take it Like a Man’ and talk to their doctor about prostate cancer, and to ‘Get in the Game’ because being active and living a healthy lifestyle can reduce your risk for cancer.

Alison McMullen, Director of Preventive Oncology for Regional Cancer Care, said community partners like the Lakehead University Thunderwolves are essential in promoting cancer prevention messages.

“In Canada, prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. In Thunder Bay, the incidence of prostate cancer is expected to rise by 67 per cent by 2014. We need to reinforce the message to men that you should be talking to your doctor about prostate cancer if you are over 50, and you can reduce your risk for cancer by staying active, eating right and living smoke free. What better venue to promote those messages, than at a hockey game?” she said.

Prostate cancer awareness campaigns have been a priority for Regional Cancer Care and the NCRF because of high incidence rates and the increased ability to treat the disease when found early.

“It’s not easy to talk about prostate cancer,” said Brian McKinnon, Chair of the Board of Directors, NCRF. “Prostate Man is a great campaign to get men over 50 talking about their health and living an active, healthy lifestyle.”

The NCRF is 100% Northern – all funds raised support cancer research, patient care and education and awareness here in Northwestern Ontario.

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