THE Goulburn Stags Football Club this Saturday fights back against one of its fiercest opponents, cancer.
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The club is taking part in the Cancer Council’s Call To Arms fundraiser.
Call To Arms is one of the Council’s annual fundraising events that offers men’s sporting groups of all ages and codes an opportunity to help raise funds and awareness for cancer - a disease that affects one in two Australian men by age 85.
With the success of last year’s event, Goulburn Stags are fired up and ready to tackle cancer yet again.
The day kicks-off at 9am when the under 13 Stags Navy team takes on MBK for the Bradley Chisholm Cup.
Stags Old Boys take the pitch at 10.30am, also against MBK.
At 12.15pm the day takes a turn with local businesspeople joining Stags in a 30 minute charity match.
After what promises to be an exhibition in ‘skill’ and ‘class’, second grade kicks-off at 1pm in the official Call To Arms Cup against Soldiers.
This match is in its third year with both clubs having one win each.
The final match and highlight of the day sees first grade take on Exeter in a match that could decide who plays in the semifinals.
All 20 Stags sides will wear special shirts to highlight the cause.
The initiative continues into the night from 7pm at the Workers Club. All funds raised from an auction and raffle (entry is $25 and includes performance from local outfit The Black Arrow Band) goes towards to the Cancer Council.
That money will help fund cancer research, prevention and information support services.
“You can become involved by purchasing raffle tickets in the lead up to the event, as well as at the games, or attending the charity night the Workers Club,” Stags committee member and a driving force behind the initiative, Craig Norris, said.
“We have raised over $40 000 in the past four years, and we hope to make this year our biggest one yet.”
Men are 84 per cent more likely than women to die of preventable cancers common to both sexes.
That equates to 6900 Australian men.
“What a lot of men don’t realise is that at least one in three cancers are preventable,” the Cancer Council’s Mia Parson explained.
“You can reduce your cancer risk by not smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating healthily and exercising.
“It’s great to see clubs like the Stags getting involved in Call To Arms, because when it comes to fighting cancer in men, it’s definitely game on.”