The March Masonic Centre recently welcomed 82 men, many of them Freemasons, for a vital prostate cancer screening event, funded by the Cambridgeshire Charity for Care and Relief. Held in partnership with men’s health charity CHAPS, the initiative aimed to raise awareness and encourage early detection of prostate cancer and other men’s health concerns.
Sonia Shelcott, Chief Operating Officer, opened the event and highlighted the importance of early testing: “With 1 in 8 men likely to be affected by prostate cancer, particularly those over 40, it remains the most common major cancer in the UK. Yet, it’s the only major cancer without a national screening programme. The importance of early testing cannot be overstated.”
Among the Freemasons in attendance were DepProvGM David Blair, and DepGSupt. Mark Shields, who also took part in the screening.
DepProvGM, David Blair praised the strong turnout and echoed the call for proactive health checks: “It was good to see so many fellow Masons attending the testing event. I hope this will encourage other men to do the same.”
The significance of the event was brought to life through the story of W.Bro. Kim Sheldrick, of Scientific Lodge No.88, diagnosed with prostate cancer following a similar screening held last year in Cambridge. Thanks to early detection, Kim received timely treatment and is now in remission.
“Last year’s screening quite literally saved my life,” said Kim. “A simple test gave me the chance to catch prostate cancer early, and now I’m in remission and feeling stronger than ever. These events are not just about awareness—they’re about giving every man the opportunity to take control of his health. If my story encourages even one person to get tested, it’s worth every moment.”
