Prostate Cancer Foundation chief executive Keith Beck
(left) and PlaceMakers Dunedin owner-operator Justin
Macready in the Octagon yesterday with 600 crosses,
representing the number of men who die annually in New
Zealand from prostate cancer. Photo by Craig Baxter.
A sombre reminder, simple words and, of course, blue
sausages, came together for a Prostate Cancer Foundation
awareness-raising event in Dunedin yesterday.
Six hundred blue crosses, representing the number of men who
die from prostate cancer in New Zealand each year, were
placed in the Octagon and supporters handed out information
aimed at encouraging men to talk about their health.
Chief executive Keith Beck said the event, and others
throughout Blue September, was about getting the message
across to men and women that prostate cancer was a serious
disease and needed to be discussed.
It is the most common cancer in New Zealand men: 2500 cases
are diagnosed, and 600 men die from it, each year.
"The number of annual deaths from prostate cancer is higher
than the road toll, but we could prevent up to half of them
with early detection," he said.
PlaceMakers supports the cause nationally and Dunedin
owner-operator Justin Macready said it fitted well with the
company's customer base.
By offering simple educational material and fundraising, he
hoped to break that "hard man mentality" and encourage men to
seek help with their health.
A novel approach was organising Dunedin butchery Robertson
Meat Ltd to make 200 blue sausages for the event.
Visit www.blueseptember.org for more
information.
ellie.constantine@odt.co.nz
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