Awareness banked

Paolo Micucci says prostate cancer is a disease most men fear, but it’s also one they don’t like to talk about.

That can be deadly, said the branch manager at TD Bank’s brand new Memorial Avenue location on Thursday, after presenting the Thunder Bay Prostate Cancer Support Group with a cheque for $5,000, money that will be used locally to build awareness of the disease.

Micucci grew a moustache for Movember to help support the group, and said it was only natural to continue that partnership as they celebrated the grand opening of their new outlet.

“We raised over $1,100 for that, so we decided to make an even bigger donation of $5,000 to the Prostate Cancer Canada Network Thunder Bay today,” he said.

Ed Long said donations like this go a long way, not only in Thunder Bay but also extending out into the region.

Awareness is key, he added, encouraging men to get tested at the appropriate time.

“One out of seven men in Ontario will be diagnosed with prostate cancer,” he said, echoing Micucci that not enough dialogue goes on about the disease.

The earlier it’s detected, the less severe the side effects from treatments are, and the odds are better that a patient will survive.
“There’s lots of things happening that we don’t know about as far as research and development of treatment, and it’s always important for that to happen.”

Long couldn’t thank bank officials and staff enough for their support.

“It means a lot to us. It’s acknowledging that what we’re doing is good and it supports us. We’ve got a good relationship with them and it really affirms all that’s being done on behalf of men in Northwestern Ontario and all of Canada.”

PCCN-Thunder Bay meets a 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the 55-Plus Centre on River Street.

For more information, visit www.pccnthunderbay.org.