Local men urged to check in at free '˜Movember' health event tomorrow

Staff, board members and volunteers pictured at the launch of the Male Cancer Awareness Month billboard at Free Derry Corner by the Pink Panthers Support Group, from left, Danny McNamee, Sean Collins, CRT, Martin Mullan, Maureen Collins, Development Worker, Karen Mullan, Charlie Nash, Julie McGinty, Margaret Cunningham, John Nash, Co-chair, and Wliie McGaughey. DER4417-131KM

The men’s health awareness event is being run in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Health Improvement Project and takes place from 12.00 noon through until 3.00 pm.

As well as health information and health checks on offer, a rodeo bull is also being installed with a £50 cash prize for whoever can remain in the saddle the longest.

Among the local organisations attending and supporting the event are Derry’s Pink Panthers, the Waterside Health Forum the Western Health & Social Care Trust, Hillcrest House and the Department for Communities.

There will also be lunch provided and Rhonda Wooler, Health Development Officer with the Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership who said the event will be informal and people can drop in and stay as long as they wish.

Rhonda said that it was well documented that men were notoriously hard to engage with at times when it came to health matters.

As such, informal events have proved more successful in attracting men to come along.

“The whole idea behind this is to raise awareness of male cancers,” she said.

“We have got different health stalls, the rodeo bull and a free lunch.

“People can drop in and stay as long as they want to, even if they have a spare half hour during their lunch break, they can just drop in and see us.”

Michelle McLaren from the pink Ladies/Pink Panthers said the Men’s Movember Carnival was a great way of encouraging men to come along and get some health checks completed, queries or concerns addressed or just information about cancer and a healthy lifestyle and diet in an informal setting.

She said: “We are delighted the Waterside Neighbourhood Partnership has invited the Pink Panthers organisation along to the event to support them on this taboo subject regarding men and the importance of getting checked out and looking after your health.

“On the day we will be providing cholesterol checks, Health MOTs and also providing information about the Pink Panthers. We will have our cancer awareness and information stall and anyone can come and chat to us.”

She added: “It is great for us to be able to engage with as many groups as possible and it is going to be a brilliant day . There will be nice food served and the rodeo going there as well. We want to also put the call out there that this is open to all men to drop in and get a health check and get to meet some of the Pink Panthers and the other agencies in the city during what is Male Cancer Awareness Month.”

Michelle said this was also an opportunity for men to get educated and prepared for the future, in the event that they or someone they know may need advice or support at a later date.

The Pink Panthers are currently engaged in a month long awareness raising campaign during Men’s Cancer Awareness Month (November).