600 Men Die Every Year Of Prostate Cancer

600 supporters to gather this Friday at Te Papa museum to remember the 600 men who die every year of prostate cancer.

This Friday the 25th of September 600 blue crosses will be positioned at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington to symbolise the 600 men who die every year from prostate cancer in New Zealand. The Prostate Cancer Foundation are inviting 600 members of the public to come at 12.30pm and take a cross in remembrance of those men who have died and support making changes that will reduce this number for the future.

A local Kaumatua will say a Karakia and supporters will observe 2 minutes silence remembering those men who have died.

This Friday is Blue Friday, part of the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s major awareness and fundraising campaign, Blue September.

Local supporters and Prostate Cancer Foundation representatives Ian and Doreen Morrison are passionate about seeing more men becoming aware of the need to have regular checks for prostate cancer to allow for early treatment should irregularities arise.

“About half of those 600 deaths may have been prevented by early detection. Prostate Cancer can only be caught early if men from the age of 40 get regular prostate checks” says Mr Morrison. Ian Morrison is a prostate cancer survivor himself and was fortunate to have the disease caught early.

Also on Blue Friday, Parliament has allowed the pillars at the front of Parliament house to be turned blue for the prostate cancer cause. This is only the second time ever this has been allowed for a specific cause such as prostate cancer awareness.

Businesses, community groups and landmarks all across New Zealand are turning blue this Friday to raise awareness and funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation as all are encouraged to face up to prostate cancer.

ENDS