Scooter Challenge An Uphill Success

in remarkably good weather conditions.Guests included former All Black captain Buck Shelford and Hokonui Gore breakfast announcer Luke Howden.

The All Black’s hardman was diagnosed with lymphoma some years ago and has been an advocate of promoting men’s health issues since then particularly embracing the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Blue September fundraising month.

In an interview a few years ago Shelford said “It’s a men’s cause. It’s the only thing for us”. He went on to say that “there aren’t a lot of men’s advocates out there and that men had to get rid of that staunchness about health issues and getting things checked out by a doctor.Radio breakfast man Luke Howden said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience of being so close to the road for that distance.

Luke Howden says his motivation for doing the ride was extremely strong as prostate cancer claimed the life of his grandfather 5 years ago.He said many men on the challenge spoke of their experiences of the disease, either catching it just in time to be treated or having a very near miss.

Prostate cancer claims up to 600 men annually and its prevalence is on a par with breast cancer.Howden says the overall message is for men to get these things checked out by health professionals.

Since its inception The Southern Scooter Challenge has raised close to a quarter of a million dollars for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.