$1 million raised for the fight against prostate cancer

MEDIA RELEASE:

22 NOVEMBER 2012

$1 million raised for the fight against prostate cancer

The financial contribution of a large New Zealand company to the fight against prostate cancer was recognised this morning at a presentation at SKYCITY.

Key supporters, including Sir Peter Leitch, Buck Shelford, Mike Puru and Brett McGregor, gathered to recognise PlaceMakers’ nationwide fundraising effort that has resulted in $1 million raised for the Prostate Cancer Foundation since they began sponsoring “Blue September” in 2008.

Blue September, the annual awareness campaign for PCFNZ, was launched in 2008 and PlaceMakers’ sponsorship of the campaign emerged because of a challenge laid down by Sir Peter Leitch (The Mad Butcher).

“The Mad Butcher gave us the challenge four years ago to throw our weight behind Blue September and our branches have done that and more ever since. From golf days, to motorbike rides and house auctions, we’ve given it our best. We are absolutely pleased with today’s result and committed to do even more in the future”, says Mr Beveridge, PlaceMakers CEO.

$1 million is the largest contribution to the Prostate Cancer Foundation from any single New Zealand company or patron.

Keith Beck, Prostate Cancer Foundation CEO said “Prostate Cancer Foundation is really fortunate to have a group of committed sponsors and it has been really fantastic working with PlaceMakers. Their clients are almost all male and so the fit with prostate cancer awareness couldn’t be better”.

Longstanding men’s health and prostate cancer ambassador Buck Shelford was also recognised with an award from the Prostate Cancer Foundation for his outstanding contribution to Blue September.

“It’s great to be honoured with the award, I feel very humbled by that because I’m not here for that. I had my illness five years ago and I realised that there wasn’t a lot of coverage out there for men. Working with the Prostate Cancer Foundation has allowed me to get behind a men’s cause and it’s got to a stage now where it’s pretty big and it can only get bigger. Being a part of that is fantastic”, said rugby legend Buck Shelford.

Despite prostate cancer being the most common cancer in Kiwi men, financial support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation remains significantly less than Breast Cancer fundraising and awareness in New Zealand.

Key Facts:

• One in 10 NZ men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.

• More than 500 men are still dying from prostate cancer every year.

• It is estimated up to half of those deaths may have been prevented by early detection.

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