21 May 2021
The Shell V-Power Racing Team are proud to announce motorsport hall of famer Dick Johnson, DJR Chairman and CEO Ryan Story, and DJR Advisory Board Member and Ford tuning legend, Rob Herrod, have been named as official ambassadors for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).
Story said the motorsport community had been rocked by a number of recent diagnoses and now was an important time to support the community organisation, which is committed to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners and families.
“One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85, and it doesn’t discriminate. We’ve seen a number of key personalities in the motorsport community diagnosed in the past and recent months.
“Thanks to the fantastic work of organisations like The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the survival rate has increased from 60 percent to 95 percent in the past 35 years. A simple blood test to check PSA levels can lead to early detection and that saves lives.
“The Shell V-Power Racing Team has been supporting The Prostate Cancer Foundation for some time by donating the proceeds from the sales of our signed Sierra memorabilia prints and there’s more to come.
“Our mission is to ensure they can continue the fight against the second deadliest cancer in men in Australia,” said Story.
Story, Johnson, Herrod and the Shell V-Power Racing Team will be supporting PCFA’s Sit-Up 45 Challenge, which asks individual participants to complete 45 sit-ups every day of Men’s Health Week, 14-20 June 2021.
PCFA CEO Professor Jeff Dunn said the team’s support would be a major boost for prostate cancer awareness Australia-wide.
“The Shell V-Power Racing Team is one of Australia’s oldest and most successful sporting teams, backed by tens of thousands of men who face a 1 in 6 risk of prostate cancer in their lifetime.
“We are tremendously proud to have Dick Johnson, Ryan Story, and Rob Herrod supporting our new Sit-Up 45 Challenge.
“45 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day – including men like Rob Herrod and Dick Johnson – we’d welcome all Supercar fans to join the Shell V-Power Racing Team in the Sit-Up 45 Challenge to help us save their lives.”
Having both survived their own battles with prostate cancer, Johnson and Herrod know the importance of early detection and treatment.
“Unfortunately, when prostate cancer first develops, there are often no symptoms; they tend to develop in the later stages. It’s why regularly seeing your doctor when you’re over 50, or over 40 if there’s been cases in your family, is so important,” said Johnson.
“Rob and I were lucky we were diagnosed early, but it’s so important for men to discuss their individual risks and detection options with their doctor.
“When it comes to the Sit-Up 45 challenge, I think I’ll enlist the help of our super-fit crew to do my share.”
For more information on the Sit-Up 45 Challenge visit: www.Situp45.org.au
-ENDS-
For further information, please contact
Megan Crockford
Media Manager – Shell V-Power Racing Team
E: megan.crockford@djrteampenske.com.au
M: +61 432 471 839
Laura McKoy
General Manager, Marketing and Public Relations
E: Laura.McKoy@pcfa.org.au
M: +61 435 094 788
About the Prostate Cancer Foundation
We are Australia’s leading community-based organisation for prostate cancer research, awareness, and support. As the nation’s predominant charity fund for Australian-based prostate cancer research, we exist to protect the health of existing and future generations of men in Australia and to improve quality of life for Australian men and families impacted by prostate cancer.
Our vision is a future where no man dies of prostate cancer and Australian men and their families get the support they need.
Our focus:
- To be Australia’s leading charity fund for Australian-based prostate cancer research.
- To protect the health of existing and future generations of men in Australia.
- To improve quality of life for Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer.
