Men can now join in Kendal's CancerCare StarWalk (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Men can now join in Kendal's CancerCare StarWalk

9:30am Thursday 16th February 2012 in News By Rachel Ryan

MEN are to be allowed to take part in Kendal’s CancerCare StarWalk for the first time in its five-year history.

And among the first to stride out over the 10km fund raising walk will be prostate cancer sufferer Den Bray.

Mr Bray was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006 and set up a cancer group for men after experiencing the trauma of having tests, enduring the wait for results before undergoing a prostatectomy.

“You think that you are the only one who has had this bad news but after meeting with other men diagnosed with prostate cancer I realised that there were other people going through the same thing,” said Mr Bray, of Lancaster, a former employee at Heysham Power Station.

After using cancer support services at CancerCare, Mr Bray decided to get together with other prostate cancer patients and form a support group so that men throughout the area could share experiences and learn more about the illness.

“Traditionally men do not talk about cancer. We talk to our wives and then just get on with going through the process.

“This group has helped me understand my cancer more and made me realise I was not alone living it but had people to support me.”

He said that offering support to men was very important and that the sessions had been popular with up to 70 men attending the sessions.

In May, Mr Bray will join in CancerCare’s StarWalk to help the charity raise the £1.2 million it needs to run its centres in Kendal and Lancaster.

It will be the first time that men can take part and Mr Bray, who has been a marshal at the event over the past couple of years, is looking forward to participating.

Helen Hartin, of CancerCare, said: “Due to so many men asking over the years to be involved in this event and the fact that more than one quarter of our clients are male, we thought it was about time they were invited.”

The prostate cancer sessions take place on the second Tuesday of each month at Slynedales in Lancaster.