04 December 2024

A global circle of support is forming for men impacted by prostate cancer thanks to a new initiative by the Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support Group. 

The Ringwood PCSG has created a formal affiliation with the Burton-on-Trent Prostate Cancer Support Group in the United Kingdom. 

Ringwood Prostate Cancer Support Group leader Andrew Blackwell said the new partnership has been a fantastic way to share fresh ideas on raising prostate cancer awareness and support.  

“It’s just been fantastic to be able to communicate with another support group from another part of the world,” Andrew said.  

Andrew, whose dad and three uncles are prostate cancer survivors, said he wanted to gain knowledge from other sources at a support group level.  

“Burton-on-Trent, the borough of East Staffordshire, and their county, Staffordshire, support the group much more than our local councils and state governments do so we’ve still got some work to do here locally,” Andrew said. 

Andrew said that the entire town of Burton-on-Trent supported the group in March for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month (in the UK) by providing funds to advertise the group's presence at local festivals and community events.  

The borough and county also helped provide stalls and a support team for the awareness month.  

“Many local sporting groups help by spreading the prostate cancer message, and professional football teams like Burton-on-Albion also support them with awareness and fundraising.  

“There is a massive connection with cricket. The Staffordshire County Cricket Club supports the Burton-on-Trent PCSG by raising awareness and fundraising activities,” Andrew said.  

“So we now have some great new ideas. I have also been able to share some ideas with them, including our Light Up the Night in Blue when we lit up our local council in blue. He thought it was a brilliant idea and will try to do it for their next awareness month,” Andrew added.  

Andrew encourages all Prostate Cancer Support Groups to reach out to other groups around the world and share ideas on how to grow their groups and awareness.  

“If anything, it helps us learn and grow as a group. It’s always good to form new relationships with other like-minded people around the world,” Andrew added. 

Andrew encourages anyone to contact him at ablackwell2@bigpond.com to discuss forming an international partnership to fight prostate cancer.