New Partnership to Fight Cancer in Far North Coast
Byron Shire Council has announced a new partnership with The Cancer Council NSW, which aims to reduce the impact of cancer on local residents.
Congratulations to Byron Shire Council for taking this proactive step to help make its community Cancersmart, said Di Fisher of the Cancer Councils FarNorthCoast regional office.
The Cancer Council Community Partnerships program uses council outlets, networks and venues to get cancer prevention and support programs through to people and organisations in local communities.
For a small amount of effort and time and almost no out of pocket expense, councils in New South Wales can reap big health benefits for their community, said Ms Fisher.
Byron Shire Mayor, Cr Jan Barham said, the Council acknowledges the high level of physical and emotional suffering and financial burden caused by cancer in this community and have become a Cancer Council Community Partner. Byron Council is committed to help lower the impact of this insidious disease in our community by supporting Cancer Council information and education campaigns that will benefit the community.
Councillors believe that by working in this partnership we can lower the impact of cancer in Byron Shire. One in three people will get cancer in their lifetime so its important were proactive about preventing cancer and helping and supporting cancer patients in our own community.
Byron Shire Council will make information available on our website and in libraries and Community Access Points. The Cancer Council also has made available cancer information centres to be set up in our local libraries so people affected by cancer can take home up-to-date and accurate information and have held free shade workshops for Council staff to raise awareness in assessing, planning and designing shade needs, Cr Barham said.
The Community Partnerships program in Byron Shire Council will include vital sun safety advice to childcare centres and workplaces, and skin cancer awareness programs for older citizens. The partnership will also mean local cancer support groups can use Council venues free of charge [g1] .
The partnership is excellent value as most of the materials and programs are provided free by the Cancer Council, said Cr Barham. Our role is to ensure that our community benefit from the partnership through information sharing and a knowledge of the support that is available.
In the period 2000 2004, 702 people from the Byron Shire local government area were diagnosed with cancer and 223 people died from cancer (22% lower than the state average).
The most common diagnoses were:
- Melanoma - 112
- Breast - 86
- Colorectal - 81
- Prostate 81
- Lung 46
- Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma - 27
*These figures are from the Cancer Institute NSW website.
Media Contact: Regional Programs Coordinator, Di Fisher 0428 158 548
MEDIA AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
A formal presentation in which Byron Shire Council will accept becoming a Local Government Partner with the NSW Cancer Council will be held at 10.15am on Thursday 1 March 2007 in the Council Chambers Mullumbimby prior to the Ordinary Council Meeting.
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