Each hour in Australia, more than five men die from conditions that are potentially preventable. Foundation 49 is a direct response to this health crisis affecting 49% of the population – and is dedicated to improving the health status of men across each decade of life.

Significant numbers of male-related health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility and colon cancer, could be detected and treated more effectively if men’s awareness of these problems was greater.

Through education of men, their partners, families, employers, communities and government, an opportunity exists to improve the health status and prevalence of the major disease states currently experienced by men.

Foundation 49 was established in the memory of Tony Hitchin , a journalist and former editor of the Herald and Weekly Times magazines who died from a rare form of cancer. During his illness he took every opportunity to raise awareness of men’s health and the need for men to have more regular check-ups.

Foundation 49′s vision is ‘to reduce the number of men dying from preventable conditions by raising health awareness and encouraging regular check-ups’. To achieve this vision Foundation 49 will focus on being a health promotion organisation whose primary aim is prevention and early detection.

Foundation 49 is managed and administered in the framework of Cabrini Health Limited. All monies raised by Foundation 49 goes back into the funding of Foundation 49 initiatives.