Well-known publican Alistair Flower is dancing up a storm in the name of cancer research, hoping to raise awareness in fellow 40-somethings that it could happen to them too.
Flower is a career publican with plenty of experience and some awards under his belt, atop running his own successful pub at Port Macquarie and being a married father of three.
Reality set in when his cousin of the same age was diagnosed with cancer and spent three intense years fighting and nearly losing the battle.
The blessings of modern medicine and innovation have seen him completely recover, and Flower be inspired to take part in the Hastings region’s annual Raising Money & Dancing for Cancer.
Each year nine people are selected to be taught by a professional dance instructor, toward a big gala performance at the culmination of the program.
Flower has spent his life pouring beers and running pubs for the likes of Redcape, Waugh Group and Halcyon Group. But he does have a genuine connection to famed white men with questionable moves*.
“I’m a typical 40-year old male – I don’t think too much about my diet or my health or going to doctors,” says Flower.
“But the reality is, if I don’t change habits or get regular checks at the doctor, cancer will happen to me also.”
Since beginning the program, the full-time publican has lost 14 kilos and reports he is feeling great.
With “two left feet” he is dancing to raise $20,000 for cancer research.
“The money that we raise really can make a difference,” he says. “I want to see more stories out there like my cousin’s.”
HELP ALISTAIR RAISE MONEY AND AWARENESS FOR CANCER RESEARCH HERE
*Back in 2007, during his days running the Coogee Palace, Flower was searching for a New Year’s Eve act as a drawcard for the night and lined up Vanilla Ice – creator of the 1990 hip-hop hit Ice Ice Baby. Following some calling around, Flower ended up arranging a ten show tour, with Vanilla Ice also performing in Coffs harbour, Newcastle, Airlie beach, Melbourne, Wagga Wagga and Perth.