It was a quick little text from my mom I received sometime after lunch on a Thursday. I will never forget that message, "On your way home stop at our house we need to talk." Of course, I thought nothing of this request. That was until I saw the look in my Dad's eyes. Prior to that conversation a prostate exam was just a joke and PSA was just three letters that meant nothing at all to me. As I sat in their living room on the couch and the conversation progressed, I could not help but feel a ton of different emotions running through my head, helplessness being one of the largest. So many questions, so many fears, it felt as if I was being convicted and sentenced for something I had in my own DNA!!!
My dad was always there for me no matter how many different creative ways I could find to mess things up or how many obstacles were tossed in my way. He would always say, "You can do anything you put your mind to. If you can't go over it, go around it." I wanted to be there for him and help in any way possible. My helplessness quickly evolved into curiosity and my Google searches revealed more and more information regarding the importance of early detection. I could not help but think about Breast Cancer and how pink is everywhere, but what about Prostate Cancer???
As we approach his second year anniversary of being cancer free, The Historic Preservation of Antique Tractors and Equipment of Eastern Michigan, H.P.A.T.E.E.M. is proud to be announcing "Puttering 4 Prostate.” This will be an epic tractor ride that will be leaving Marine City on Tuesday, September 6th with one Big Goal in mind; trying to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer by driving 65+ year old tractors 350+ miles from Marine City, MI up and over the Mackinac Bridge and into downtown St. Ignace. We are planning on 10 to 12 hours of seat time on tractors that top out at around 15MPH. On Thursday, September 8th we will be joining roughly 1,000 other tractors in Mackinac City preparing for the 9th annual Mackinac Bridge Crossing. We have received inquiries regarding donations and have decided to donate any profits generated from this ride to the Michigan Institute of Urology Men’s Health Foundation.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, MIU Men’s Health Foundation is dedicated to men’s health advocacy and the awareness, education, research and treatment of prostate cancer and men’s health related issues. Since its formation in 2009, MIU Men’s Health Foundation has become a leader in men’s health advocacy both locally and nationally. The Foundation’s local work is collecting data about men’s health and has attracted national attention to propel investment in healthcare strategies for men across the country.
Our lineup looks like; H.P.A.T.E.E.M.’s President, Garry Spencer on a Minneapolis Moline, Bill Blanchard (My Dad) on a 1947 Ford 2N, Rob Gardiner puttering in on a 1948 Ford 8n, and I will be bring up the rear on a 1951 Ford 8n.
Thank you for your support,
https://www.razoo.com/us/story/Puttering-4-Prostate
RBB
