Reaching over 1000 men across 17 locations, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s Sons of the West men’s health program has wrapped up for 2017.
Sons of the West began in 2014 in response to the dire health statistics of men living and working across Melbourne’s west, with a specific focus on the municipalities of Ballarat, Brimbank, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Sunbury, Wyndham, Central Goldfields, Golden Plains and Melton.
In 2017, Sons of the West targeted common health inequalities recognised in men including; mental health, nutrition, physical activity, prostate cancer and domestic violence.
This year’s program saw impressive success rates with a record number of participants coming along to weekly sessions. This year, a total of 304 men provided evidence that they had visited a GP within the 10-week Premiership Season in 2017.
Sons of the West Leader, Jonathon Manallack shared his gratitude to the club for the impact that Sons of the West has had upon his health.
“Someone asked me the other day, what I would’ve done if I hadn’t done this program – I think I’m more educated now and I know what things I need to do as far as my health and diet,” he said.
“Knowing to exercise more and to reduce the food that I’m eating, I can now do that and continue to lose weight and get to where I want to be”.
Sons of the West will be back, bigger than ever in 2018. Stay tuned to Sons of the West for more information surrounding the 2018 Preseason and Premiership season programs.
Submit your story!