SJD Homes director Simon Dunstan had two goals in mind after leaving last year’s inaugural Casey Cardinia Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch.
The first was to have prostate cancer check-up.
The second was to increase his commitment to the cause.
So this year SJD Homes has not only upped its sponsorship from Gold to Patron level – joining
Star News Group and Car Megamart – but the Officer-based company will also have a huge presence on the day.
Mr Dunstan has booked two tables to the 31 July event at the Cardinia Cultural Centre and his sales manager Rod Fitzsimmons has a similar booking.
The inaugural lunch raised $53,000, which went towards prostate cancer research and awareness initiatives, and promoted a lot of local awareness on the day.
“You can just donate to a cause, but that sometimes doesn’t have soul,” Mr Dunstan explained.
“I know this event last year made me spring into action to get tested and a lot of other guys there did the same thing,” he said.
“There was a room full of ambassadors by the end of the day.”
Mr Dunstan said he liked the concept of the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch for taking the issue of prostate cancer, which can be a bit awkward, out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
He lost his father to cancer and Rod Fitzsimmons almost lost his father Brendan to prostate cancer. Brendan is now on the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch organising committee.
SJD Homes also has another staff member whose mother is currently locked in battle with cancer.
“It certainly hits home how it can change your world,” Mr Dunstan said.
“I know for me that it’s easier to make donations when you can see we are getting closer to beating this.”
Bookings for this year’s lunch Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch have already eclipsed numbers for the first year. There are only a couple of tables left before the room hits capacity.
Guests will be entertained by comedian Russell Gilbert, former Carlton champion and Dancing With The Stars winner Anthony Koutoufides and former Carlton and Hawthorn premiership coach David Parkin.
Tickets are $110, including food, drinks and a full afternoon of entertainment. To book, contact committee chairman Garry Howe on 0407 203 525 or email garry.howe@starnewsgroup .com.au
