SHAGGERS are all about having fun, but raising funds has become an essential part of the club.

"We're a not-for-profit organisation, so any money we raise goes to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia," founder Ken Thackeray said.

Prostate cancer has become the club's flagship cause, with Hands Across the Blue helping to raise awareness.

The event sees yachties align their vessels off Shag Islet in the shape of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia symbol, with live music setting the scene from a nearby super yacht.

This year's key note speaking will be distinguished professor Judith Clements AC.

The professor said raising awareness of prostate cancer was essential.

"There are actually more men that will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their life than there are women with breast cancer," she said.

"But prostate cancer gets about 10 times less funding than breast cancer.

"So we would like to see more people becoming aware of prostate cancer and its groups like Ken's that are moving that forward for us."

With SICYC having raised more than $300,000 for the PCFA in its history, professor Clements said this money was vital to finding a cure.

"If you look at just one researcher, their salary is in the order of $80,000 a year," she said.

"And it's all expensive equipment as well; there's not much you can buy for $20,000 these days and most are closer to $100,000.

"So it all adds up and everything they have fundraised so far are significant for us, but you can see there's still much more that we need to do and that's why we need to spread the message."

ACROSS THE BLUE

• What: SICYC annual event
• Where: Gloucester Passage
• When: Saturday, August 27
• Time: 2pm