Prostate cancer took the spotlight across Canada, with Canadians going Plaid for Dad, getting active and spending time with their families to raise funds and awareness for dads everywhere

Plaid-tastic support for families

More Canadians than ever reached into their closets to plaid-ify their wardrobe the Friday before this past Father’s Day, going Plaid for Dad. Nearly 1,200 workplaces went plaid, breaking the fundraising record to fund leading Canadian research into prostate cancer!

Using the power of competition                                               

WESCO Canada set the bar high for other national workplaces, raising over $28,000, with Darryl Castellano, WESCO’s head of HR, leading the team to more than double their donation from the previous year. Friendly internal competition drove a $21,000 increase in donations over the previous year.

“Prostate cancer is a legitimate concern in our industry, as we are very male-dominated to begin with, and with or population aging as it is everywhere, this is a reality we must deal with,” says Darryl. “We found that this cause was something we could really get behind with the collective power of our 130 branches.”

WESCO’s employees held events and encouraged donations from contractors.

 “It has highlighted the concern, highlighted that this is an issue. Don’t be shy about it. Know that the money being raised is going to be used for research to help eradicate this disease, and help many men live healthy and long lives well after diagnosis.”

“You see what it does to a family”

Doug Sutherland, Vice President at trucking company Sutco Transportation Specialists, has experienced the toll prostate cancer takes. His dad was diagnosed at 61 after going to the hospital for a blood clot and getting bloodwork done, including a PSA test. He went through successful radiation treatment and is now healthy. Unfortunately, Doug’s father-in-law was lost to the disease, after a late diagnosis.

“Prostate cancer is a big one for us,” says Doug. “You see what it does to a family. So many people are affected; it’s not just the individual. It’s important that we’re aware of the disease because of the people that we would potentially leave behind.”

Sutco’s team took part in Plaid for Dad for the first time this year, starting a four-year $100,000 goal. They’ll also drive awareness by wrapping one of their transport trucks that will appear in parades and at events.

“We have a platform to bring awareness to a lot of families with this truck,” he says. “We’re also excited because the plaid on the truck is the Toronto Raptors official colours – black, red and gold. It’s really cool we have an awareness truck for prostate cancer, wrapped in the Raptors colours, in the year we launched this campaign, and the year they won the NBA championship!”

 “No one needs to be without a grandfather, an uncle, a dad. If diagnosed early this is something we can beat.”

Walking and running for dads

While some went plaid, others banded together at the Do it for Dads Walk/Run this year, an event that brings hope to families who have, or are facing prostate cancer. Nearly 100 teams participated in five cities across Canada.

19-year prostate cancer survivor Aaron Bacher has been attending the event since 2000 – the year it started. “We’re all here to hope that the research finds a cure,” he says. “We hope that men in the future will never have to hear those words, that, ‘you’ve got cancer.’ It’s devastating, it’s stressful. It’s words that many of us, including myself, never thought we’d hear.”

As the past chairman of his local support group, Aaron knows how important it is for men and their families to have others to talk to about their experience. “They realize they’re not alone. They thought they were in isolation, that they were the only guys diagnosed with this disease, and that’s obviously not the case.”

“If we realize that we’re doing some good with one man during the day, I go home feeling good that I accomplished something.”

Fueling better outcomes

Families in Toronto supported Prostate Cancer Canada on Father’s Day by checking out sweet rides and donating at the Yorkville Exotic Car show. This record-breaking event drew 90,000 car enthusiasts from across the province who learned about the disease from volunteers and staff, raising a whopping $85,000!
 
Prostate Cancer Canada would like to thank its generous sponsors who help us save and improve more lives. Thank you to Hill Street Beverage Company, INDOCHINO, Head/Penn, Janssen, the Toronto Star, ClubLink, McCann, Media City,  MIDO, Newad, UB Media and the Yorkville Exotic Car Show team.