The Shepparton News is proud to be a patron of Shepparton’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch, which is held in August each year.

The late Chris McPherson, who suffered from prostate cancer, started the event in 2009 as a way to get blokes together and to encourage them to take responsibility for their health and get tested.

Chris passed away from the disease in 2015, but his legacy continues to live on through the events, which are now held across the country.

Locally, the events have raised more than $1.3 million, funding that is crucial to provide ongoing support to fund the roles of prostate cancer and bowel cancer support nurses based here in Shepparton.

This enables local patients to be supported here in Shepparton through every step of their journey after diagnosis.

Chris showed great foresight and selflessness, to turn his diagnosis into something constructive that would benefit others for years to come.

Not only is the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch a great day out for more than 700 men every year, it also acts as a reminder to them to think about their health, talk about it with others, and take responsibility for getting tested.

The Shepparton News supports the event through promotion and ticket sales, stories and pictures from the event, and by running stories with cancer sufferers, survivors, their families and local health professionals to get the messages out.

We are pleased to support the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch, that continues to contribute to meaningful outcomes for the local community.

This year was the 10th annual Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch in Shepparton, held on August 24.