Stirling Freemason raises £30k for prostate charity by walking 150 miles around Forth Valley
A local freemason has raised over £30,000 for charity after walking 150 miles around Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire and into Fife.
Derek Robertson, from Bannockburn, set out to raise £10,000 for Prostate (Scotland) to encourage men to get the simple PSA blood test at their GP, to spread the word about the good works of freemasonry, and to achieve this while managing his own chronic health conditions.
Scottish freemasons have already raised over £1.2 million for Prostate (Scotland).
Derek, accompanied by lots of masons and friends, was piped off on his journey from Bannockburn on April 23 and piped home on Saturday, May 3.
His walk took him from Drymen to Dollar and from Bridge of Allan to Kincardine and Polmont stopping off at all 23 masonic lodges on the way.
On the walk passersby and shoppers were given information leaflets about prostate cancer.
Freemasons mobilised across the province raising money from whisky tastings, cabaret nights, quiz nights, raffles, auctions and a dance day.
Local companies like Lou Mac Fitness and Kilgannon Motors, to national organisations like Tesco and Slater Menswear gave of their time and resources to support the endeavour.
Derek uncovered different approaches from GPs to the PSA test.
He said: 'It's tough enough for men in at risk groups to come forward for testing. I know from speaking to many men over the last six months that some GPs welcome enquiries. It's unfortunate that others put up barriers.
'Indeed some are mistaken by refusing a test if an at risk man has no symptoms. A close friend of mine since childhood died from it, having previously displayed no symptoms. I hope that this inconsistency will change.
'I wrote to General Practitioners Scotland in March and hope to get a reply.'
Of the walk itself, Derek said: 'It was an amazing adventure planning and carrying out this charitable endeavour. I've seen central Scotland up close and been reminded how beautiful it is. And I've witnessed freemasons doing what they do best in rising to a charity challenge.'
Richard Kerry, Master of Derek's Lodge Bannockburn Bruce and Thistle No312, said: 'The Bannockburn brethren immediately got behind Derek's charity endeavour and supported him throughout.
'It's been hugely positive to see how the focus on prostate cancer has raised awareness, leading to actions by men across the central belt.
'What's amazing too is that this effort is in addition to not instead of the charities the province's lodges already support.'
Morag Idan, of Prostate Scotland, who was presented with a cheque at a social event in Bannockburn said: 'We are amazed at the generosity of everyone who donated and so thankful for the effort that Derek has gone to in organising this event.
'The funds he has raised will contribute to the work we are planning to raise awareness of prostate cancer and disease with men living in the more deprived or rural communities in Scotland so that they speak to their GPs earlier and more diagnosis of prostate cancer are made at an earlier stage.'
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