Aidan Curtis
A FORMER Port Adelaide footballer is heading to Mount Gambier this week to help raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Retired AFL player Gavin Wanganeen coming to town as part of the Jodi Lee Foundation’s Behinds Matter campaign.
Mr Wanganeen said he is proud to be involved in the campaign and spreading information on ways to prevent bowel cancer.
“I’m looking forward to heading back to my hometown of Mount Gambier to connect with the community and helping Jodi Lee Foundation share their important messages about bowel cancer,” he said.
“I am almost in the age bracket where I start receiving the National Bowel Cancer Screening Kit free in the mail from the Australian Government, so I am also passionate about getting the message out to 50-74 year olds that they need to do this free test every two years when it arrives in the mail.
“Because it could just save your life.”
Mr Wanganeen said one of his goals in joining the campaign is encourage males and Indigenous Australians to keep an eye on their bowels.
“The statistics show that males and Indigenous Australians are less likely to complete the free Bowel Cancer Screening Test when it arrives in the mail,” he said.
“I hope to help increase participation rates through the events with Jodi Lee Foundation in Mount Gambier this week.”
Jodi Lee Foundation chair and founder Nick Lee said bowel cancer is more common than people realise.
“Many people don’t know that bowel cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in Australia, after lung cancer,” Mr Lee said.
“Early detection is key to turning these figures around, as up to 99 per cent of bowel cancers can be successfully treated or even prevented if detected early.”
“We are looking forward to visiting the Mount Gambier region with Gavin this week and we thank our partners RAA, Wellbeing SA, Star Discount Chemist, Nangwarry Football Club and Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation for helping us make these important events happen.”
Mr Wanganeen will be speaking to the community at Star Discount Chemist on Ferrers Street between 11am and 12pm, and at Nangwarry Football Club from 5pm on Wednesday, March 29.
He will also speak from 10:30am at Southgate Motel on Thursday, March 30.
Visit www.jodileefoundation.org.au for more information or to register for one of the talks.
