mate v mate : I am raising awareness for cancer

This is a post by me as an Ambassador for Mate v Mate

When I was eighteen years old, in year twelve and completing my final exams, I was diagnosed with a melanoma. Mild at that, but it was still cancer. It scared me, but at the same time opened my eyes to how vulnerable I was. Because, you see, I have always been very fair. “Pasty white” as my brother likes to call me. And a simple mole, that had been there for years, began to change. Horribly.

In June it will be twelve years ago since I lost my grandmother to caner. But sometimes, it seems like only yesterday. And it was nearly twelve years ago that cancer hit my family like a tone of bricks. Shook us to the core and changed our life forever. It was then that I really began to learn about the awful, scary and horrific disease of cancer.

It is only because of my diagnoses that I regularly have skin check ups, send my husband for check ups, and cover my children, head to toe in sun suits and sun protection. And it is because my grandmother passed at an age too early, took me on a journey like no other, and opened up my eyes to the importance of life and its precious moments. The scary thing is, it was the loss of her that brought a greater appreciation into my life. It was her, it is her, that continues to inspire me today.

But it is not just I that has a story, or a tragedy to tell. Cancer is one of those illness that effects so many people, families and friends.

It is scary.

Women know all too much about checking their breasts, having regular pap smears, getting regular blood tests and ‘being aware’ of their bodies. But what about men?

Mate v Mate is here to help people, especially men, become aware. Mate V Mate is a Cancer Council NSW campaign aimed at encouraging men to challenge each other and raise money to fight cancer in men.

Mates are ‘challenged’ to challenge mates. Simply! Just give each other a challenge and go for it.

It’s a shocking statistic, but the fact is one in two men in Australia will be diagnosed with cancer by the time they’re 85. Put simply, that means it could be you or your best mate. That’s why Mate v Mate aims to bring best mates together to raise money for research that will help change the odds – and have some fun in the process.

Who knows what would have been different if I was more aware of cancer? But now, every year, I encourage my husband to get ‘tests’ and have that daunting check-up he so drastically dreads. But I tell him, sometimes we have to do certain things we don’t like to get to a bigger and better picture.

Mate V Mate week is March 16 – 24, 2013. This year is the first year. So come on! Talk to your husband, talk to your friend, talk to your family, talk to your mate, and together, we can fight the challenge of cancer in men.

For more information you can:
::Go to the Mate v Mate website here.

Have you been touched by cancer? What challenge would you set for your mate?

Linking up with Essentially Jess