Ready, steady, cook for prostate cancer awareness
Four prominent Brisbane chefs headed out of the kitchen and over to Mater Hill on Monday 30 August for a charity barbeque cook off to promote the start of prostate cancer awareness month.
The chefs—Rhett Willis of Jellyfish Restaurant, Matt Yurko of Kingsleys Steak and Crab House, Graham Waddell of Baguette Bistrot + Bar and Paul Pledge of Friday’s Riverside—were only too happy to show off their culinary skills while raising money for prostate cancer research at Mater.
Friday’s Riverside Executive Chef Paul Pledge decided months ago that he wanted to do something in support of prostate cancer and rallied others to be a part of the cooking challenge.
“I have reached my forties and I know how important it is to be regularly checked for prostate cancer. I am supporting Mater Foundation’s Talking PC campaign in an effort to increase awareness of this terrible disease,” Mr Pledge said.
Prostate Cancer kills one Australian man every three hours. Currently there are 61 000 men fighting the disease and another 19 000 will be diagnosed this year.
Left to right: Rhett Willis from Jellyfish, Paul Pledge of Friday's Riverside, Matt Yurko of Kingsleys Steak and Crab House, Graham Waddell of Baguette
Clockwise from top left: Mater Foundation Executive Director Nigel Harris, Graham Waddell of Baguette, Matt Yurko of Kingsleys Steak and Crab House, Paul Pledge of Friday's Riverside, Rhett Willis from Jellyfish, Courier Mail journalist David Costello, Mater patients David Stark and Rusty Joyce.
Fairfield retiree David Stark—who has now been cancer-free for three years—was one of three judges that decided the winner of the barbeque cook off.
“Many men are too embarrassed to go and get their annual check ups; it was an annual check up that saved my life,” Mr Stark said.
However, improved diagnosis and treatment methods are needed, so scientists at Mater Medical Research Institute have been studying how a man’s own immune system can be stimulated to fight prostate cancer.
New research is also focusing on identifying the key proteins that promote prostate cancer and understanding the molecular events underpinning prostate cancer—how it starts and how it spreads around the body.
Mater Foundation is encouraging families, workplaces and sporting clubs to copy the chefs and hold their own barbeque or even a morning tea or take up a collection in September to raise money to help fund research.
With Father’s Day approaching, what better time to raise funds and help tackle a disease that deprives so many families of their grandfathers, fathers and sons.