Australian Farmer Turns a $5,000 Ram Into a Powerful Prostate Cancer Awareness Campaign

A farmer in Western Australia is using an unusual livestock sale to start conversations about prostate cancer and encourage men to take their health seriously.

A Ram With a Bigger Purpose

Kojonup farmer Liz Heggaton has turned her annual ram sale into an important fundraising and awareness campaign.

One of the rams was sold for $5,000, helping raise thousands of dollars for prostate cancer awareness while bringing attention to a health issue that can be difficult for many men to talk about.

For Heggaton, the campaign has a deeply personal meaning. Her husband, Craig, died by suicide in 2024 while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

Turning Personal Grief Into Action

After her husband’s death, Heggaton became an unexpected advocate for prostate cancer awareness.

She has spoken publicly about the experience and the importance of making conversations about men’s health more normal, particularly in rural communities where access to medical services can sometimes be more difficult.

Rather than keeping her family’s experience private, she has chosen to use it to encourage other people to seek information and support.

Why Rural Conversations Matter

Heggaton’s campaign is closely connected to life in regional Western Australia, where farming communities often have strong social networks but can also face challenges accessing specialist healthcare.

Livestock sales provide an opportunity for farmers and members of the wider community to come together, making them an unexpected but effective setting for conversations about health.

By connecting prostate cancer awareness with something familiar to farmers, Heggaton hopes the subject will feel less difficult to discuss.

Thousands of Dollars Raised

The annual ram sale has helped raise thousands of dollars for prostate cancer awareness.

The fundraising effort demonstrates how community events can be used for more than their traditional purpose. In this case, a livestock auction has become a way to bring attention to a serious health issue while supporting awareness efforts.

For Heggaton, the value of the campaign is not measured only by the money raised. She also wants people to leave the conversation with a greater willingness to talk about their health.

A Message Beyond the Farm

Heggaton’s story highlights how personal loss can inspire people to create something positive for their community.

Her approach has helped transform a difficult chapter in her life into an ongoing campaign focused on awareness, conversation and support.

Through a $5,000 ram and a farming community willing to get involved, Heggaton is helping bring prostate cancer into conversations that might otherwise never happen.

Source: ABC Great Southern, October 6, 2026.