Apr 15, 2024 MISA, Motor Industry Staff Association, Martlé Keyter, Golf Day, Prostate Cancer Foundation, 17 May 2024, Kyalami Country Club
MISA hosts Golf Day for the Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate cancer accounts for 13% of male deaths from cancer in South Africa.
According to the National Cancer Registry, the lifetime risk for prostate cancer in men in South Africa, is 1 in 15. The World Health Organization reports the increasing adoption of risky behaviours such as smoking, the harmful use of alcohol, inadequate intake of fibre, fruit and vegetables and lack of physical exercise are major contributing factors for increased risk of cancer. That is one of the reasons why the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), a registered non-profit organisation, strives to ensure that prostate cancer achieves as much awareness as possible with the aim to minimise the impact of the disease on men and their families.
Martlé Keyter, the Chief Executive Officer: Operations of MISA, the Motor Industry Staff Association, says the Union believes early detection is key in the fight against any cancer. MISA decided to donate the funds raised at the Union’s annual Golf Day on 17 May 2024, at the Kyalami Country Club in Midrand, to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
“MISA is the majority trade union in the male dominated retail motor industry, representing more than 64 000 members. The Union decided to dedicate our annual Golf Day to specific issues affecting men’s health, testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health and gender-based violence.
“MISA wants to encourage its members to look after their own health and to go for regular check-ups. The Union rewards 500 members annually if they successfully claim the R3 000 MISA Healthy Member Benefit. To qualify, members must proof that they checked their blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol and did a weight assessment or BMI. The Union believes the holistic approach of the PCF is vital to the fight against prostate cancer and wants to empower it to continue doing exceptional work,” says Keyter.
Andrew Oberholzer, Chief Executive Officer of PCF, says the organisation was started to address the challenges posed by prostate cancer in South Africa. Most South African men who present with prostate cancer in South Africa, already have advanced or locally advanced prostate cancer. At this stage the cancer is no longer curable.
“This problem is exacerbated by the fact that black African men have a 60% higher risk of having prostate cancer and are more than twice as likely to die from the disease. There are usually no symptoms in the early stages when prostate cancer is curable. A lack of knowledge about the benefits of age-appropriate screening and lack of access to screening remains major challenges.
“Research commissioned by Cancer Alliance in 2021 shows that prostate cancer will be the most common cancer in South Africa by 2030.
“Given these challenges South Africa needs an organisation dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by prostate cancer. The organisation is led by some of South Africa’s top medical specialists who diagnose, treat and research prostate cancer on a daily basis,” says Oberholzer.
MISA can still accommodate a few team who wants to participate in the fundraising event. There are also a few holes left for sponsors.
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