A LOCAL hospital will soon boast a prostate cancer screening machine, thanks to a $30,000 donation.
The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health network received the donation from the Male Bag Foundation – an organisation providing funds for regional hospitals around Australia – to buy a transperineal biopsy machine for the Riverland General Hospital.
The charity planned to run its annual Big Postie Bike Ride in October to raise funds for the donation – travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne, with stops in Berri, Naracoorte and Mount Gambier – however this was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The charity decided to make $30,000 donations to the RMCLHN and the Limestone Coast Local Health Network immediately, with the ride likely to take place in early 2021.
Foundation patron and footy legend David Parkin, told the Murray Pioneer the new machine would make it easier for Riverlanders to get preliminary prostate cancer screening without having to travel to the city.
“(The machine) allows people in rural Australia to not have to travel, take families, find accommodation and deal with all the expenses to get tested,” he said.
“It’s about the only simple way to test people to see if they are in the position where they may have to have treatment.”
Mr Parkin said the group made the early decision to postpone the ride due to restrictions on interstate travel.
“It’s not easy to get 40-odd people organised in terms of riders and support staff, and they need to know early what’s going on as well,” he said.
“I’m certain we will do it and as soon as the opportunity allows us to we will be on the bikes to do what we promised to do.”
Mr Parkin, a prostate cancer survivor whose father passed away due to the disease, said local enthusiasm for the ride had been “terrific”.
“The two hospitals approached us to see whether we would help them with those machines,” he said.
“They’ve got terrific local support, particularly from Berri Lions and a few other groups and they’ve been able to raise a fair bit of money.
“We’re committed to giving $60,000 to each hospital, and we’re giving each $30,000 to get started.
“It’s a really good combined community effort that will see these machines installed in these two areas.”
Mr Parkin said the Big Postie Ride was one of his highlights every year.
“This is a good way of thanking the medical fraternity and helping other people who may be facing similar difficulties,” he said.
“(The riders) are a fabulous bunch of people from all walks of life.
“I’m so pleased that they invited me to do it in the first place.
“It’s become one of the anchors of my life and one of the things I really love doing.”
For more information about the ride visit the foundation’s website (themalebagfoundation.org.au).