Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance (HPCA) is a local charity dedicated to raising awareness of health issues in the Hunter by spreading the message about healthy living and the need for early detection of diseases like prostate cancer. They also provide free resources and counselling services to men, their families and the community relating to men’s health and prostate cancer.

HPCA takes this service right through the Hunter New England area. Each year they undertake a country run, visiting health professionals and community groups and helping with information and resources.

“We are currently working with sponsors on an advertising campaign to the whole region called ‘The Little Prick’ Campaign,” says Business Development Manager, Kim Simpson. “This campaign reminds men (and more importantly their wives or partners) to go and see their GP and get some blood tests including the PSA test which looks for prostate cancer cells. In 2009, when this program last ran, we saved over one thousand local lives.”

Getting Involved with HPCA

HPCA has a public facility at the old Post Office in Turton Road, Waratah which offers a free walk-in resource centre with written materials and advice from trained counsellors and volunteers. “For many years our only volunteers had come from our client base,” says Kim. “Last year we opened up our volunteer program and now have 35 terrific people who support us in various ways.”

These volunteer opportunities include a gardening group, events team, speakers who help with community and corporate programs and others who help selling raffle tickets and attending events.  Ambassadors also play an important role, as they are community leaders or well-known personalities who help spread HPCA’s life saving message.

For more information about the Hunter Prostate Cancer Alliance, find HPCA on Facebook, or visit the HPCA website.

Coming Up for HPCA

On 25 and 26 October 2014, come along to Bikefest Newcastle supporting HPCA and men’s health in the Hunter. The biggest cycling event in our region, Bikefest offers a weekend of bike rides, races, expos and entertainment at locations along Newcastle’s beautiful foreshore and scenic cycleways.

 Images: Supplied