Fellas - are you aware that records show that five men die every hour from a potentially preventable illness? This just has to stop. Men have a higher death rate from cancer, heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, accidents and suicide and die on average five years younger than women.

It is a huge cost to families and the community but thankfully there are now health initiatives available to men to break down the barriers that prevent Australian men from going to a GP, and ultimately, avoid an early death.

In Armidale tomorrow there will be a ‘Pit Stop’ where men can put their bodies over the pits at the Men’s Shed at 251 Mann St between 10am and 2 pm. It is a fun program run by Hunter New England Health, supported by the Men’s Shed, Rotary AM and Armidale Dumaresq Council – and it’s free.

Community nurse and program coordinator Marilyn McCarthy said Pit Stop is based on a mechanical concept, likening body parts to an engine.

“We are issuing a challenge to men to put their bodies over the pits to see whether they pass with flying colours or whether they are issued with a certificate of unroadworthiness to be followed up with their general practitioner,” she said.

The Men’s Shed will be putting on a barbecue lunch and it will also be an opportunity to have a look around the shed, and discover what assistance is available to complete some of those woodworking jobs around the house.

* For further information call the Men’s Shed on 6772-5899.