Community & Business
29 April, 2025
Riders rock red socks
TWO local social clubs banded together and donned red socks in a special bike ride last week to raise awareness of prostate cancer after two of their members were diagnosed.
The SAO (Seventy-and-Older) cycling group joined the Atherton Rotary Club’s weekly cycling club last Wednesday, with 45 riders taking part, all of whom wore red socks to raise awareness and promote the message to seek early detection of prostate cancer.
Two members of the SAOs, Ivor Anderson (age 71) and Joe O’Dea (age 70), were diagnosed with prostate cancer and are warning their fellow men of the dangers.
Mr Anderson was fortunate enough to have caught it early and underwent surgery to have his prostate gland removed. He said his recovery has been “so far, so good”.
“It’s so much easier being proactive. If you can get in early, there’s not going to be any issues, but if you leave it too late, it can affect a lot more than the prostate and it can spread very easily,” Mr Anderson said.
“A lot of older men have got symptoms and haven’t done anything about it, and they’re covered in cancer. It’s not a good journey if you’re not proactive.
“I was referred to the urologist by my GP and they did a lot of testing and discovered I had cancer.
“It went on for about three years and then it started to increase. So, I had the decision of having chemotherapy and radiation, or have removal, and I chose to have removal and that’s been a good journey so far.”
However, Mr O’Dea, is still undergoing treatment such as hormone therapy to diminish his testosterone levels and prevent the cancer from spreading.
“You don’t know you have it, basically. I thought I was getting arthritis in my back, and I started getting up for a pee quite a bit at night,” Mr O’Dea said.
“I used to do the 5km park runs every Saturday morning, but I slowly started losing stamina.
“Now, I can’t walk very far, and I can’t walk on an incline without having to stop, but I’m doing a lot better than I was a few months ago.”
The men are encouraging others to get tested and are trying to spread the message as far as they can.
“I think men don’t get tested because it’s just a male thing and they’re trying to tough it out,” Mr O’Dea said.
“A lot of people just don’t want to go to the doctor as well, but it’ll give you a longer life and a better quality of life if you get ahead of it.”
Mr Anderson said: “I think not being proactive is the big issue with most men. You need to be in front of it and don’t leave it too late.
“And when you’ve been through the journey, there’s places like Cancer Council Queensland who are very helpful in both physical and mental stimulation, and they can help you with any issues you may have had during that time.”
Rotary’s Project Red Socks was started in 2014 after the death of Dennis Denmead PhD, who was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Townsville Sunrise.
Following this, 80 male members underwent tests and discovered that 14 had a positive indication that they had prostate cancer.
The red socks were chosen as the symbol of the project because Mr Denmead was an Arsenal football supporter and only ever wore red socks.
They aim to act as a reminder for men to regularly consult with their medical practitioner about prostate cancer.
For more information contact Ray Francis from the Atherton Rotary Club on 0417 626 971 or visit the Cancer Council Queensland’s website at www.cancerqld.org.au.
Further information can also be found on the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s website at www.pcfa.org.au.
Prostate cancer facts
One in five males in Australia will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85.
Prostate cancer caused the death of 3,507 men in Australia in 2022.
It has a higher death rate than breast cancer in women.
There has been a 21% increase in the death rate in rural Australians.
The risk rate can increase at middle age.
Family history of the disease is relevant.
Prostate cancer in young males is more aggressive.
Early detection is essential for survival rates.
