An important two day cycling event aimed at raising prostate cancer awareness arrived in Bunbury on Friday afternoon.
The Perth to Margaret River ProState Cycle departed South Perth on Friday morning. It is set to continue through to Margaret River on Saturday.
The riders were fare welled by health minister Roger Cook and event patron Kim Ledger, the father of the late actor Heath Ledger.
Now in its sixth year, the ride is held during International Prostate Cancer Awareness month and has raised more than $1 million for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
The event also aims to increase the awareness of prostate cancer, which is the most common in men in Australia, with 20,000 new cases diagnosed nationally each year.
The driving force behind the Perth to Margaret River ProState Cycle is Jeremy Watkins who came up with the idea of the cycle event to raise awareness of prostate cancer after his father-in-law was terminally diagnosed in 2011.
Sadly Mr Watkin’s father-in-law Alan Brown passed away in April 2014.
“The majority of the riders have been touched in some way by prostate cancer, which makes participating in this ride mean so much more to them and the camaraderie that is created is amazing,” Mr Watkins said.
“We are very lucky to be supported in is this event by Genesis Cancer Care, ECU Exercise Medicine Research Institute and Commonwealth Bank Australia. Sponsorship from these organisations allow us to increase the scope of the event and to attract more riders to this very worthy fundraising and awareness event.”
To donate to the riders, visit prostateactive.com.
