Graham Staggs (OAM) and his wife Adele Staggs (OAM) from Glenhaven have both been honoured for their work with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia for nearly 20 years.
Now in their 80s the couple say the honours are “absoloutely amazing” Adele said her husband underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2004 and the surgeon suggested he attend the Prostate Support organisation at The Sydney Adventist Hospital.
“It started from there,” she said. “He was (then) asked by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to join the Chapeer Council (representing NSW) and from there he was asked if he would lead a support group in Dural.
Graham founded the Dural and District Prostate Cancer Support Group in 2012 and has seen it grown to help hundreds of people.
“It does make a big difference to some people when they realise they are not alone in this and they realise there are many other men going through the same thing,” he said.
“We never give medical advice but were are experts in the experience.” Adele said she started the carers’ support group because she could see that getting the support of other carers was important.
“We go to coffee shops and talk about how we are coping and people feel better.”
The Dural and District Prostate Cancer Support Group meets on the third Monday of the month at 7pm at the Blue Gum Centre at Glenhaven Green Village.
