One of Prostate Cymru’s key aims is to raise awareness of prostate issues across Wales. Volunteers of the charity visit workplaces, social and sports clubs in addition to community events to educate men about prostate diseases including benign prostate disease and prostate cancer.
Since a joint fundraising event for the charity with Ammanford Cricket Club in 2016, Morganstone have been working with Prostate Cymru to raise awareness. The multi-disciplined construction company, whose headquarters are based in Llanelli, has received several awareness talks at sites across Wales. Members of Morganstone staff, subcontractors and companies they work with such as housing associations have attended the talks.
On 1st July, Prostate Cymru’s Head of Awareness Dai John visited the company’s College Road site in Ebbw Vale to provide an awareness session for Morganstone and Linc Cymru staff.
At the talk was Morganstone employee John Dowding. John had previously attended a Prostate Cymru awareness talk at Morganstone’s Schooner Way development site in Cardiff led by volunteer Ian Norton. John, who had no symptoms, decided to visit his doctor following Ian’s talk to have a PSA blood test and other examinations. He recorded an initial PSA level of 4.1. This level increased to 6 at his next PSA test leading to further tests and a prostate cancer diagnosis. John has been treated with radiotherapy and is making good progress.
Without Prostate Cymru’s awareness programme, John shared that he was unlikely to have visited his doctor especially as he was asymptomatic. John attended Head of Awareness Dai John’s talk in Ebbw Vale, sharing his story to encourage his colleagues to get checked or at least have a chat with their doctors about their prostate health.
John Dowding, said: “Prostate Cymru do an amazing job when it comes to educating men about prostate cancer and the importance of getting a PSA test. Despite the fact that it can be asymptomatic, I urge all men to read up about the symptoms of prostate cancer and PSA tests. A quick blood test really can save your life.”
Ian Morgan, Managing Director of Morganstone, said: “Prostate Cancer is a cause very close to our hearts, with many of the Morganstone family having personal experience of watching family members or friends battle the disease. It is so important for men to get checked, which is why we’ve supported Prostate Cymru so that they are able to continue their fantastic awareness sessions and continue saving lives. We’re so grateful that John was able to get diagnosed as a direct result of one of the on-site awareness sessions which reemphasises the importance of this vital awareness campaign.”
We would like to thank John for sharing his story with the charity and Morganstone for their commitment to raising awareness of prostate issues in their sector.