Health forum for Hamilton's blokes

Chartwell Lions Club founding member Owen Henderson (left) and president Kerry Beach.

The Chartwell Lions Club will host a men's health forum this month to educate men over 40 on their biggest health risks, and encourage unwilling Kiwi blokes to get a check up.

The night will host cardiologist Raewyn Fisher and urologist Dirk Drent, who will travel from Auckland to attend the event.

Club president Kerry Beach said although it's primarily a men's health night, everyone was welcome and he encouraged partners to help coax any unwilling men along.

"It's an informative address and our health professionals will be allocated an hour each," said Kerry.

"They will talk about what signs to look for. Men predominantly think they'll be all right in a week. This evening is to get the message across to them that when signs are there to do something about it."

Club member Owen Henderson has been involved with Lions for 45 years and is the only remaining founding member.

He hoped attendees would be brave enough to voice their own concerns and symptoms during the question time.

His own story speaks volumes to the importance of having regular health checks after what he calls "the golden age of 40".

"I've had bowel cancer and I was really lucky they found it early. I was able to be healed and it's been 18 years now, but just personally a lot of the people having chemo with me never saw the time through, and that's because it was too late," he said.

Mr Henderson said the ability to recognise symptoms of a heart attack was key later in life, and age-related risks like prostate cancer were also essential.

"These are the things we want people to check on. If I hadn't had a check I might not be here - that's what it amounted to for me," he said.

The event will be held at Southwell School Auditorium on Wednesday, April 20 from 7pm. It is free to attend.