All,
We have received the following request from Bill Forbes 2/70:
“ Hi there
I feel guilty asking as I have never previously fund raised preferring to simply donate, but this year I would appreciate your support for a very good cause.
Fifty years ago I commenced a 30 year military career at Scheyville OTU with a good few of you in Class 1/70 and in Sep that year graduated with the remainder in 2/70. In Sep this year 50 years on, I am taking part in The Long Run – a 72 km challenge to raise funds and awareness for The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
I would love you to support me either by joining my team under the (not) very original name Team Forbes or by donating.
You do not have to run, you can walk, cycle, spin, skate or stagger (probably my method) whatever… it is an individual effort. You also do not have to complete thedistance in one session, it can be spread over Sep.
If you would rather not do the exercise bit… you can simply donate! All contributions no matter how small or large will make a difference. The Prostate Cancer Foundation are a terrific group of people providing much needed support to Australian men and their families who are fighting prostate cancer,
Given the prevalence of prostate cancer I suspect many of you may have been directly affected by it, or you have a relative or mate who has had it, or is currently dealing with it. So this may already be a subject close to your heart – too many guys are finding their lives cut short by this damned disease.
Now the fund raising organisers have provided a quantity of excellent informative material I could use to highlight the ‘cause’ but I thought my personal story may be of interest. If it is please feel free to use it to increase the support base for this worthy cause.
In early 2009 aged 59 I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer and I want to say at the outset I have been supported on my journey with cancer by some of the bestmedical professionals you could ever wish to have on your team and also, most importantly, by my loving wife who has faced and overcome her own cancer challenge this year – breast cancer.
A confirmatory biopsy detected I had two tumours and six weeks later I had a radical robotic prostatectomy and, after a recovery period, I went back to enjoying life but it remained at the back of mind – what if?
Five years later when I hoped to be told “All clear you are a cancer survivor” I was advised further signs of cancer had been detected!
Over the next 18 months PSA numbers continued to rise to the extent it was determined cancer treatment was once again necessary and I had 33 radiotherapy treatments in late 2018. Life then resumed and remained good until mid 2019 when radiation proctitis struck.
Proctitis is an infrequent but not unknown side-effect of radiation in the prostate region and it can take some time after radiotherapy before it rears its’ ugly head. The number of men who get proctitis are small but as luck had it…I was one of them!
After a number of colon treatments in 2019 and earlier this year I am now okay and the proctitis has hopefully been successfully addressed.
With regard to the prostate cancer – all is good there too. I have regular blood tests which will continue for the remainder of my life but cross fingers, I hope never again to hear a doctor say the words ”Bill you have cancer!”
Cutting to the chase… by contributing to The Long Run you will be helping the professional organisation who help people like me – The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. Please consider joining Team Forbes and running, walking whatever…or donate.
Here is the link to providing your assistance: https://www.thelongrun.org.au/join/teamforbes
Or you can read more about The Long Run at: https://www.thelongrun.org.au/the-challenge
Thank you so much for reading this. I look forward to the challenge, together we can help support the people who support the fathers, brothers, sons and mates who one day may be told the dreaded words – “You have cancer.”
Your assistance will be greatly appreciated!
Best wishes and sincere thanks
Bill ”
Sent by : Ian Kelly 2/67
OTU Webmaster
