Inspirational address given over breakfast
Former All Black Buck Shelford shared his cancer journey recently at a special 'Breakfast with Buck' event designed to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the importance of early detection.
Over breakfast Buck emphasized the need for men to get checked when they have any suspicions that something is not right in their body. 
He told the crowd of over a hundred people that men need to communicate with their wives, partners and tamariki, as "they are the ones that will be with you on your journey and you need their support."
He also spoke about the attitudes that generally keep men from going to their doctor and how this needs to change if men are to lead by example for their families.
Joining Buck on stage were Dr Tim Phillips a General Practitioner, and Dr Alex Browne from the Nelson Hospital Emergency Department who was also MC for the event.
The doctors used humour and story-telling to convey basic information such as, what a prostate is, where it is, how it is checked and how long it takes for test results to come back.
Lorraine Staunton, Educator and Manager for Improving the Cancer Pathway for Maori project, and the event organiser, said the feedback was extremely positive.
"People contacted me to let me know of how their mindsets on their personal health has been changed," she said. "A man came up to me and said he was setting about making some serious changes and was very thankful for the opportunity to have attended the morning."
Written feedback from an attendee said: 'Dr Tim Phillips, was passionate, informative and fantastic! He covered everything you needed to know from a typical kiwi blokes perspective...'
Lorraine said 100 percent of the men that filled in an evaluation of the hui, stated they would be sure to get their prostate checks done now as they want to be around for their family and live a healthier life.
Nelson Marlborough Health’s He Huarahi Matepukupuku project is funded by the Ministry of Health and aims to improve the cancer pathway for Maori people in both access to cancer services and in cancer outcomes.