18 September 2026

Hundreds hit the tracks for biggest Central Coast 4x4 prostate cancer fundraiser yet

Hundreds of four-wheel-drive enthusiasts packed the Watagans on Saturday for the fifth 4x4 Prostate Cancer Awareness Fundraiser, with organisers describing the 2026 event as their biggest yet.

Between 300 and 400 vehicles are estimated to have taken part, with the campsite packed and merchandise, raffle tickets and food selling strongly throughout the day.

Early figures suggest the event raised around $20,000 for Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), with final totals still being tallied. Before this year’s event, the Berton family fundraiser had already raised more than $56,500 for prostate cancer research, awareness and support services.

The event was established by the Berton family in memory of Mike Berton, who died from prostate cancer in 2021 at just 53 years old, only 22 months after his diagnosis.

Mike’s wife, Jen Berton, said the turnout exceeded everything the family expected.

“It was next-level huge. We’re thinking between 300 and 400 cars alone, and the campsite was absolutely packed,” Jen says.

“It was our biggest event yet. We sold out of T-shirts and sausages, and we’d sold out of bread rolls before the event had even started.

“The weather was amazing, and there was such a beautiful vibe. Everyone was incredible.”

Jen said one of the most powerful parts of the fundraiser was the way the four-wheel-drive community embraced conversations about prostate cancer and men’s health.

“The people are amazing. They are some of the most generous and kindest people you’ll meet,” Jen says.

“I heard so many stories from people saying, ‘My dad had prostate cancer,’ or telling us about someone close to them. You can just have a yarn and put prostate cancer on their radar. Even if it’s not about prostate cancer, it’s a safe space to talk.”

Jen said the event's success was a collective family effort.

“My family goes above and beyond. I’m probably more the spokesperson, but the boys, Louise and Steve, are the driving force behind it. They are the ones who make it happen,” Jen says.

“People were already asking us about next year, and even whether we could make it a whole weekend. It’s a mammoth effort, but the support means so much to us.”

Mike was fit and healthy and only 51 when he was diagnosed in 2019. He had no symptoms, and by the time his prostate cancer was found, it had already advanced.

“Five years on, we keep doing this because we know Mike’s story can make a difference,” Jen says.

“We can’t change what happened to Mike, but we can use his story to encourage other men to know their risk, talk to their doctor and not put their health off.”

The need for greater awareness remains significant.

The latest Cancer Institute NSW figures show 1,894 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the Central Coast Local Health District between 2019 and 2023, equivalent to almost 380 diagnoses a year.

Nationally, prostate cancer is Australia’s most commonly diagnosed cancer, with around 29,000 men diagnosed each year and more than 4,000 deaths expected annually.

PCFA CEO Anne Savage praised the Berton family for creating an enduring legacy that continues to reach men and families across the community.

“Mike was only 51 when he was diagnosed, and his story is a powerful reminder that prostate cancer can have a devastating impact on men and families.

“Community events like this help us reach men with potentially life-saving information while raising vital funds for research and support services. We are enormously grateful to Jen, her family and everyone who continues to get behind them.”

Donations to the Berton family’s 2026 fundraiser remain open at: https://fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/4x42026

For information about prostate cancer or to find a local Support Group, visit www.prostate.org.au or call PCFA on 1800 22 00 99.

Photo above: Participants before the start of the fifth 4x4 Prostate Cancer Awareness Fundraiser on Saturday, 19 September (Image Credit: Jen Berton).