Get the Top, Local stories delivered to your inbox! Click here to join the daily Vernon Matters newsletter.

VJH Foundation Men’s Health Month Fundraiser

Aug 15, 2017 | 6:22 AM

The North Okanagan Men’s Health Month, held throughout June, raised $20,094 for Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.

The campaign, replaced the annual Do it for Dad Run & Walk.

It supports PSA testing for prostate cancer, the Vernon Prostate Cancer Support and Awareness Group, and a new ECG machine and trolley for Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

Donations will stay local and benefit all men in the North Okanagan. Donors could designate gifts to either Prostate Cancer Care or Cardiac Care.

Local businesses supporting North Okanagan Men’s Health Month with donations include SUBWAY, Bannister GM, Kal Tire, S.P. Seymour Ltd., Summit Financial and Watkin Motors.

“We would like to thank the North Okanagan community for recognizing the importance of supporting men’s health locally,” said Andrea Egan, Development Officer for VJH Foundation.

Last year in the North Okanagan, there were 23,325 ECG tests performed, in addition to 1,918 cardiac stress tests and 1,077 holter & event monitorings.

It is estimated that annually:

– 21,600 men will be diagnosed annually with prostate cancer. This represents 21% of all new cancer cases in men.
– 4,000 men will die each year from prostate cancer. This represents 10% of all cancer deaths in men.
– 16,000 Canadians die from heart attacks each year because they are not capable of identifying the body’s natural warning signs.
– Cardiovascular Disease remains the leading cause of death throughout the Western World and the second most common cause in Canada.

Picture: Ed Eyford, Prostate Cancer Support & Awareness Group and Sue Beaudry, Director of Development VJH Foundation