A mobile cancer screening charity set up to help the uninsured was on hand at the Axa XL Man on the Run 5K on Sunday morning to underscore the importance of men’s health.

Jonathan Makanjuola, a consultant urologist at the Bermuda Hospitals Board, is cofounder of the Daily Male, Bermuda’s first mobile health charity.

Set up about three years ago, the charity has already screened more than 400 men for prostate cancer and cardiovascular diseases and has recently taken possession of a fully kitted medical vehicle after raising $300,000.

Many families in Bermuda have been affected by prostate cancer and Makanjuola is keen to do what he can to help those most in need.

“Before I came to Bermuda I was a consultant in London and we used to see advanced cancer maybe twice or three times a year,” he said.

“But when I first moved to Bermuda in one week I saw three men with cancer that had spread everywhere. The common denominator between them was that they all had no insurance so didn’t get checked or screened. That’s not acceptable in my opinion, so we are helping the situation.

“Since I’ve been doing this in Bermuda we have picked up ten cases of advance cancer and we’ve been able to treat those men.”

There is hope on the horizon with Makanjuola keen to point out that early screening will save lives in Bermuda.

“Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among men in Bermuda,” he said.

“One in four Black men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime and it affects one in eight of all men. We’re trying to improve education rates and there used to be high rates of advanced cancer in Bermuda but that is coming down because of the work we are doing as early screening saves lives.

“Our van has just arrived in the last six weeks as our strategy is to be more mobile, so we’re going to go from St George’s to Somerset offering free health screening.

“We offer a free finger prick blood test for PSA. Normally you would need a blood draw and have to wait 24 hours for a result but with our machines you can get it in 20 minutes and know your risk.“

The Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre were the chief beneficiaries from the event with every dollar raised going to its Equal Access Fund.

Deborah Titterton-Narraway, chief marketing officer at the charity, feels that these events will indirectly help the lives of many of the island’s residents.

“The Equal Access Fund ensures anybody can walk in our doors whether they have health insurance or not and there is no out-of-pocket pay, whether that’s a $477 mammogram or $100,000 of radiation therapy,” Titterton-Narraway said.

“There are costs available at every event but we are really fortunate here that Axa XL covers 100 per cent of the event costs, which means every dollar of the registration fee and funds raised will support equal access.

“More importantly, Man on the Run is helping men get together, rub elbows, share stories and check in with each other. It raises the conversation and sometimes a bit of peer pressure can help someone to get the test and follow through on their own health.”