If you want to create change, you need persistent people willing to dream up unusual ideas.
Linda McNaughton fits that bill. She’s one of the originals, having joined the PCC in 2005 when there was a small but mighty crew of two and a half admin staff, two full-time research staff, about 12 amazing volunteers, and eight urologists who were also housed on the 2nd floor of the Rockyview Professional Building.
Linda came in as an event planner responsible for fundraising and raising awareness about prostate cancer. She easily became an advocate for early detection, in her community and among her circle of friends and family.
In 2007, she encouraged her husband, Merlin, to ask his doctor for a PSA blood test. His levels were above normal for his age and a biopsy confirmed he had prostate cancer. He had his prostate removed at age 51 and 17 years later, Merlin is healthy and cancer-free.
Back then, prostate cancer was coined an ‘old man’s disease’, but with Linda’s relatively young husband now diagnosed, and a disproportionate number of men in their 40s and 50s coming in for biopsies, Linda knew more needed to be done and messaging needed to change.
“We had to increase awareness about the PSA test and get men to have a baseline PSA test” says Linda. “Cancer was not top-of mind for men, and they weren’t sharing their fears and concerns, even if they were diagnosed. It was hard for them to take time off work, go through the hassle of booking a doctor appointment, getting the requisition, doing the bloodwork, then going back for follow-up. The test at that time also cost $27, another deterrent.”
The team hosted several educational events throughout the city often with direct access to specialists including Dr. Donnelly and Dr. Lee. Nurses were ready with blood testing equipment, and Bill Brooks advertised pro-bono in the Herald to help boost attendance. Free beer and wings were even offered at some events but only a handful of men attended, often under the supervision of their spouses.
The team had to find a better way to get in front of men.
When Dr. Donnelly brought mobile PSA blood machines to the PCC so the urologists could test their patients, it helped men already diagnosed with cancer. But it didn’t solve the problem of testing men who didn’t have a cancer diagnosis.
Linda worked with Dr. Donnelly and came up with the idea to bring the mobile PSA test to the men. To have a very visible, non-threatening unit at sporting events, shopping malls, even their workplace. The vision was to make sure the MAN VAN® felt inviting, comfortable and not medical.
“Dr. Bryan Donnelly and his dedication to educating men about PSA testing and early detection is what drives the Man Van® program,” says Linda. “Without his support the program would have no credibility. He took a stance on lowering the age of baseline testing and he also volunteered his time and expertise to ensure every high PSA test was followed up on and no man fell through the cracks.”
Linda had a small army of prostate cancer graduates on her team, including Gareth Morgan, still an active volunteer, whose enthusiasm could not be bridled. They researched many different mobile units but finally settled on getting one built from the ground up.
The original van was outfitted with a big screen TV, decorated with the signature blue and white checker-style print, and men got a complementary pair of boxers after hitting the “that was easy” button. The experience was positive, and word started to spread.
Awareness grew even more when the PCC set the Guiness World Record (2011) for the greatest number of men to receive a PSA test within eight hours, an event sanctioned by Dr. Donnelly. Linda, her colleagues, the medical professionals, 60+ volunteers, and the Calgary Flames Alumni joined forces. With more than 1,000 men attending, they caused traffic jams, and lined the stairways, streets and parking lot.
“It was an amazing, surreal day,” Linda recalls. “It put prostate cancer awareness on the map in our province. It makes me very emotional when I think about all the work that has been done. Before we got out into the community, prostate cancer was such a terrible word and very few people knew what it was or how it could be prevented. Now we had men proactively taking care of and advocating for their health, and not afraid to share their stories.”
While Linda and Dr. Donnelly were the visionaries behind the MAN VAN®, it came to life because of a supportive and dedicated community of leaders, urologists, PCC staff, donors, Rhonda, Brenda and Jay (three very competent nurses who looked after the medical portion), as well as our amazing volunteers, and community supporters – namely Priddis Greens Charity Classic, Par 4 Prostate, and the Remington Charity Golf Classic.
Linda reiterates that while idea makers are needed, it’s the volunteers who are the heart of the program – dedicating hours of their time to driving in all type of weather and to any location in Alberta.
“When they go to the clinic location, they would stand for hours encouraging hesitant men to enter the Man Van® and have a simple blood test”, she says. “Their dedication led to saving lives, one man at a time.”