SELECT used its 125th Anniversary Grand Ball to make a £2,500 donation to Prostate Scotland as part of a campaign to educate members about the disease which affects thousands of men every year.
The trade body handed over the contribution at the end of its year of celebrations, during which it has teamed up with the charity to use real-life member stories to raise awareness and encourage testing.
The event, sponsored by Scolmore Group, saw 300 members, guests and industry leaders gather at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel to mark the founding of the world’s first electrical trade association in 1900.
Hosted by broadcaster and comedian Fred MacAulay – who revealed earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with the disease – the event shone a spotlight on the importance of early detection and encouraged guests to help spread the message across the industry.
Handing over the donation to charity representatives Mae Bell and Helen Fleming, SELECT president Mike Stark said, “Our esteemed host and many of you in this room will know only too well that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Scotland. We therefore want to raise awareness among our members, encourage them to get themselves checked out and let them know that help and support is out there.
“To help it continue its work, the SELECT central board has therefore agreed to make this donation to Prostate Scotland in recognition of its fantastic achievements.”
Alison Wright, CEO of Prostate Scotland, commented, “We are grateful for this donation and delighted that SELECT is helping us spread the message that prostate cancer is more common than most men realise, yet is treatable the sooner that it’s found. Prostate cancer affects more men in Scotland than any other, with more than 4,200 diagnoses each year.
“However, when it’s found early, over 80% of men will live well for years – so early detection really matters. Many men can feel embarrassed to talk about things like this, so together we want to remove the stigma and encourage SELECT members to start having life-saving conversations.”
SELECT’s campaign with Prostate Scotland is raising awareness with case studies from members including immediate past president Alistair Grant, who successfully underwent prostate cancer surgery in 2016 and now encourages his fellow contractors to get checked.
He recently told the association’s cabletalk magazine: “I consider myself very lucky. I’m living proof that early detection saves lives. I’d urge every man over 50, especially in our industry, to speak to their GP and ask for a PSA test. It could make all the difference.”
SELECT membership representative Diane Hales also told the publication how her husband Keith is receiving treatment after a check revealed he had prostate cancer. She said, “We should all be urging the men in our lives to make time for a PSA test – it could literally be the difference between life and death.”
