14 November 2024
After losing her father, Philip, to prostate cancer in 2009, Antigony Stege has been on a mission to help not only the other men in her family, but for all Aussie blokes.
Since hosting her first Big Aussie Barbie, 15 years ago, her family has raised $32,000 for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
“My dad was diagnosed five years before he passed away. He was doing his PSA tests regularly, but I think he let one lapse,” she said.
“He left his last PSA test too late. When they found it, it had already spread.”
Antigony started hosting a barbecue the next year to honour her dad’s legacy, and to stop any other family going through what they went through.
“I have a family full of men and we don’t want that to happen to anyone else,” Antigony said.
Since 2009, she has hosted 14 barbecues at her home in Adelaide along with her family, and they have collectively raised over $32,000.
“The last few have been pretty big. We’ve raised over $5,000 for each barbecue. We get about a hundred people, and we do it in my backyard,” she said.
“We put on a massive feed. My family and really close friends help bring the food, and we tell everyone to come with a fat wallet or purse.”
Antigony said her dad loved barbecues, and it would have been the kind of event that he would have loved.
“It’s bittersweet really. He would have been in his element cooking and entertaining people,” Antigony said.
Antigony will be hosting the family’s 15th barbecue on Saturday, November 23.
To host your own Big Aussie Barbie, please visit: www.bigaussiebarbie.com.au
Image Above: Antigony at one of her latest BBQs.
