Streaking Superhero Crusades for Prostate Cancer

PRESS RELEASE
WEDNESDAY 28 AUGUST

Streaking Superhero Crusades for Prostate Cancer

Back by popular demand, the cheeky PlaceMakers Blue Streak is once again crusading across the country raising awareness of the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Blue September appeal.

He’s faster than a power tool, stronger than steel and wears his limited edition ‘get checked’ Swanndri undies as a fun way to deliver a serious message: reminding Kiwi blokes to get regular health checks to help prevent prostate cancer – the most common cancer in New Zealand men.
Former All Blacks captain, Buck Shelford is a long-standing ambassador for Blue September and is keen to remind Kiwi guys about the importance of regular health checks: “It’s time for men to face up to prostate cancer and prioritise their health so that they can be around for their families for a long time.”

To raise funds for the charity, during September all PlaceMakers stores will be selling 100% cotton blue and black check Swanndri undies, which commemorate Swanndri’s 100th birthday and carry the ‘get checked’ message to promote early detection. They cost $25 each and $10 from every sale goes straight to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Buck says: “Get a pair of the Swanndri undies to help remind yourself to get checked, plus you’ll be supporting research into prostate cancer – I’ve got a pair of them myself and they’re bloody comfortable!”

Supporting Blue September are a number of other well-known ambassadors who have heart-felt connections to the cause, including ex-All Black Stu Wilson, comedians Te Radar and Tarun Mohanbhai, celebrity chef Brett McGregor, musicians Ray Woolf and Frankie Stevens.

While Kiwi men are paying attention to prostate cancer in greater numbers than ever before, approximately 550 New Zealand males die from the disease every year.

Prostate cancer accounts for approximately 15% of all male cancer-related deaths in New Zealand, while one in 10 Kiwi men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime. Awareness and early diagnosis saves lives, in fact half of the annual prostate cancer mortality rate could be prevented by early detection.

Acting Chief Executive for PlaceMakers, Vaughan Grant says: “PlaceMakers is proud of its contribution and active involvement in driving awareness of prostate cancer. The health and wellness of our staff and all Kiwi men makes the Blue September campaign personal and very important to everyone at PlaceMakers.

“With the Blue Streak’s super powers running hot, combined with his talent for modelling undies and the superb work done by PlaceMakers stores up and down the country we have high hopes for delivering another good donation this year.

2013 is the fifth year that PlaceMakers has partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and during that time, has raised over $1Million for prostate cancer.
Funds raised by PlaceMakers are being used for research into testicular and prostate cancer, public education programmes about testicular and prostate cancer, and continuing to provide pastoral care to New Zealand men and their families.

Facts about Prostate Cancer in New Zealand

• Blue September is the awareness campaign for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in NZ men
• 1 in 10 NZ men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime
• Over 550 New Zealand men per year are dying from prostate cancer
• Many of these deaths could be prevented by early detection and healthy lifestyle choices
• We encourage all men over 40 to have an annual prostate check in the form of a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test. Every man’s PSA levels are different. We advise men to keep a track of their levels and any spike in PSA levels should be followed up with a doctor immediately.
• All funds raised from Blue September go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, a registered charity that receives no government funding. Part of the Foundation's role involves supporting research. A recent example of current research funding is proceeds towards the development of a new software tool to aid General Practitioners assisting male patients.

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