It must be a requirement for all heroes to wear their underwear on the outside because a group of Hunter men have flashed their boxers and fired up their bikes to raise awareness of the fight against prostate cancer.
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Founder of Blue Boxer, Eddie Bell,and his fellow riders wear their colours with pride.
“Blue is the international awareness ribbon colour for prostate cancer and boxers, obviously, show that it’s about hitting cancer below the belt,” Mr Bell said.
“We try to keep it light-hearted without being ridiculous. We give the blokes respect but try to get some humour into a rough situation.”
Blue Boxer hopes to enlist more riders at a motorcycle social night that Harry’s Cafe De Wheels in Newcastle has organised for this Friday.
“I’ll be going to represent Blue Boxer and get the support from the crowd, but I’d love for other people to come along with me,” Mr Bell said.
The Beresfield biker started Blue Boxer to raise money and awareness for the work done by the Hunter Prostate Care Alliance, a local charity network.
“My father-in-law as well as some guys I ride with have been diagnosed in the last two years and I wanted to do something,” he said.
“I really just want to promote the HPCA as a local service, raise awareness in the community and get them some funds if I can as well.”
The Hunter is home to some of the nation’s highest rates of prostate cancer mortality.
The state’s average death rate for the disease is 12.8 of every 100,000 men diagnosed.
Dungog towers over that average at 18.6, the Upper Hunter follows with 18.1, Cessnock at 18, Muswellbrook at 17.9 and Newcastle at 15.8.
“We’re trying to put it in men’s minds because that has a positive effect on the outcome,” Mr Bell said.
“If we can encourage regular check-ups men can create a marker that tells them what their normal prostate should be.”
Blue Boxer held a fundraising barbecue in August, which netted $368, and its first official ride a week later, the day before Father’s Day.
“We put on our boxers and rode from Hexham McDonald’s to Stockton,” Mr Bell said.
“We sold T-shirts and merchandise to raise some more funds and we’re going to make it a yearly ride.”
The ride secured sponsorship from Newcastle family-owned Brisan motorcycles, which also has personal connections to the disease.
Those interested in joining Blue Boxer for the social ride on Friday should search Blue Boxer @ Harry’s Bike Night on Facebook.