MEN are being urged to have an 'MOT' health check as part of a 'Service Your Assets' campaign to raise awareness of the importance of cancer prevention and early detection.
The Action Cancer checks include assessments of blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, and body composition analysis, as well as lifestyle advice and information on common cancers.
The charity says the checks do not diagnose cancer, but do aim to increase awareness of current health and cancer prevention and detection.
Tanya Carson, Action Cancer's health promotion officer, explained that on average 13 men in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with cancer every day.
"Men are more likely to sit on their symptoms before contacting their GP. They are diagnosed at a later stage than women and subsequently more likely to die from cancer than women," she said.
"Our Service Your Assets campaign encourages men to be pro-active about their health, to come for a health check and be educated on what cancer signs and symptoms to look out for."
Among those who have already benefited the campaign is Ian Megahey, sales director at Belfast software firm WorkPal.
"I recently had my own health check at Action Cancer and would highly recommend it to other guys," he said.
"It's an opportunity to take stock of your health as we come out of lockdown and there is no better place to start than getting a full MOT. Your health is your most important asset, get it serviced."
WorkPal has partnered with Action Cancer to set up a 'challenge fund' to the value of £7,500.
This means that WorkPal pledges to match-fund every £1 raised by other companies and people towards supporting the men's health checks.
A total of £15,000 would enable Action Cancer to deliver 300 'MOTs' over the next 12 months.
"We are delighted to partner with Action Cancer," said Mr Megahey. "At WorkPal we are focused on communication, creating the best solutions for communicating, and I can think of no better way to reach out to the public by communicating what is a very important message to the men of Northern Ireland."
The MOT health checks are available to men aged 16-plus at Action Cancer House in Belfast and also on board the charity's Big Bus.
To book an appointment visit actioncancer.org/appointments or call 028 9080 3344. You can also bring a health check clinic to your workplace by booking a clinic to be delivered at your premises. To find out more email appointments@actioncancer.org.
To get involved in the Service Your Assets fundraising campaign, contact Mark Jones on 077 0979 0897 or email mjones@actioncancer.org
