Shropshire Star Comment: Lions so deserving of support
The Bridgnorth Lions are doing more than raising funds to support the community.
They are also helping to save lives. The group’s initiative to screen men for prostate cancer has discovered the disease in more than 250 men since it was set up in 2009.
Had that early detection not taken place, many would have faced an uncertain future and some would not have made it.
The Lions deserve all credit for their work. They provide community cohesion and a sense of purpose for volunteers who give of their time freely. They create a positive atmosphere in the town and encourage people to do what they can to help others. There is much that we can learn from them.
In the case of their campaign to prevent prostate cancer, they are also helping to highlighting an important health issue that is all too easy to overlook. Men are sometimes blasé about their prospects of succumbing to the disease. Anecdotally, they would seem to be less likely than women to attend screenings.
In order to tackle this issue, more awareness is required. And the Lions are certainly doing their bit to get more men to come forward. The fact that a quarter of 1,000 males tested showed symptoms shows the pervasive nature of prostate cancer.
People queued down the street to receive a test, which is testament to the importance of the Lions’ work. In this age of austerity, it is naive to think that the NHS can raise awareness of this issue as effectively as it might wish to. And so it is left to others to play their part.
That is not only true on matters of health. Local councils no longer have the wherewithal to provide some of the sporting, arts and cultural facilities that they once did. It is left to kind-hearted and the community-minded to intervene
In Shropshire, we are fortunate that a great many well-skilled, well-resourced people engage with such issues. Time and time again they help others in a variety of ways, whether that’s restoring heritage sites, providing leisure opportunities, helping the elderly, assisting those with mental health issues or more.
On this occasion, the Lions have stepped up to the plate and provided a service that will save lives. They have broken down barriers and encouraged people to come forward. They deserve our thanks and continued support. Good on the Lions.
