Making cancer connections for men
Blues Brothers class runner Hannes Schoeman and participants Phil Best and Jake Jacobs at the first fitness class. Photo: William Woodworth
A physical health focused support network for men living with or surviving cancer has kicked off in Marlborough.
Blue Brothers Charitable Trust, alongside the Marlborough Cancer Society, are running an 8-week pilot programme at Stadium 2000.
The move is encouraging men to make connections through exercise and share experiences over a coffee afterwards.
Marlborough Cancer Society’s Felicity Spencer and Dallace McLeod took part in the first class.
“There’s been great results from our ProstFit classes but that was limited to prostate cancer.
“Having Blue Brothers be more overarching means we can create an active and social peer support network for any men who are living with or survivors of cancers”, says Felicity.
“Being social and physical helps everyone’s mental and physical health, and Blue Brothers classes mean men living with the disease understand and sympathise with each other’s situations on a far deeper level.”
Blue Brothers founder Dave Cattermole and his partner Gill completed Stewart Island's Great Walk in January 2015.
By Easter, Dave no longer had the energy to get off the couch - eventually diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on his kidney.
Doctors moved swiftly to remove the entire kidney, but subsequent scans revealed a small tumour on his remaining kidney, as well as two inoperable chest lymph nodes.
Eight years on from the removal of the initial tumour, Dave acknowledges he still lives with cancer but is committed to a strict health and fitness regime.
He credits this with helping him recover well from his operations and continue to live life well, despite his remaining cancer diagnosis.
Dave had hoped to be at the initial class last week but a truck accident on the Weld Pass meant he was unable to be there.
“Peer support networks do incredible work, and activities like Blue Brothers allows being active to create social connections and help each other out”, says Dallace.
“The stadium and class runner Hannes Schoeman have been fantastic sports, and you can never underestimate how much a chat between people going through similar situations benefits everyone involved.”
Register to be a part of the next Blue Brothers fitness class at [email protected] or on 579 4379