The Prostate Cancer Centre in Calgary is hoping men in rural communities will visit their MAN VAN as it makes its way through Central Alberta.
Combines for Cures is a pilot project aimed at reaching the rural population with the introduction of the MAN VAN.
The van is run by Prostate Cancer Centre staff and offers on-the-spot baseline testing for prostate cancer.
Men who get the test will have the results mailed to them a week later.
“The Prostate Cancer Centre and Prostate Cancer Canada are working hard to develop programs and services, and are conducting research that will help eliminate advanced prostate cancer,” said Pam Heard, executive director of PCC.
“Our state-of-the-art research facility in Calgary is focused on early detection and treatment of the disease, with comprehensive, patient focused programming.”
The MAN VAN visited Delburne on Wednesday and will be making stops in Olds on March 21 at Legion Hall, and Trochu at the Community Centre on March 29, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at both locations.
Visitors to the van will be tested for prostate-specific antigens, traceable in the blood stream.
Through the help of the test, prostate cancer is detectable and is one of the most successfully treated types of cancer.
The program is also offering farmers an opportunity to help fund research and local education programs for prostate cancer awareness and treatment. The goal to raise $2 million annually by 2015 and Combines for Cures is part of that initiative.
Farmers are able to make food grains donations at their local Crop Production Services retail outlets from March to August. Pledge forms are available at the outlets.
“Farmers are a generous and caring group. And because the program is accepting all of the major crops, we expect they will be generous to the cause,” said Tony Overwater, strategy and business development manager for CPS.
“Western Feedlots will also be accepting feed grains on behalf of the program.
“Their support will be critical to the success of the program.”
All funds raised through the grains donations will go towards the purchase of a new MAN VAN to be used exclusively for rural communities.
More information about the program is available by visiting the website at www.combinesforcures.com or contacting PCC at 403-943-8888.
cpapke@www.reddeeradvocate.com