Sons of the West graduate with pride

Sons of the West graduate Jason Cranage, 39, with Andy and Paul.

More than 250 sons of the west have graduated from a popular Western Bulldogs men’s health program.

Family and friends of the 252 men who graduated from the 2015 Sons of the West program, and the men themselves, crowded Etihad Stadium’s Crest Room and Legends bar ahead of the recent Bulldogs v. Carlton clash.

Club legend Chris Grant talked about the major impact the program had had across the western suburbs in just its second year.

“What this program does really well is reach men at grassroots level,” Grant said. “It reaches out to men in their homes, their workplaces, in their communities and challenges them to change their behaviours.

“It’s slowly changing the culture of men in the west, enabling us to work with government and health agencies to give men the support and tools they need to live longer, healthier and happier lives.”

Grant paid tribute to the “trailblazers” who had put up their hands and taken back control of their lives.

“They’ve set the standard for men everywhere,” he said.