NorthTec’s Future Trades is turning blue

NorthTec’s Future Trades is turning blue to raise awareness of prostate cancer

NorthTec’s Student Support Team and Health Centre staff and Placemakers are joining forces to hold a “Blue Wednesday” fundraising BBQ at NorthTec’s Future Trades campus at lunchtime on Wednesday, 23 September as part of “Blue September” – the national prostate awareness campaign being held this month.

The NorthTec team will be painting themselves and others with blue body paint on Blue Wednesday to raise awareness of the need for men to get regular prostate checks.

Placemakers are donating food for the fundraising BBQ and are also providing the blue body paint for the day.

Every year 600 men in New Zealand die of prostate cancer. “This happens because men don’t know how dangerous the disease is,” says Pip Bennett, a registered nurse at NorthTec’s Health Centre. “They don’t talk to their doctors about it and they simply don’t do anything about it.”

Bennett says that one in three cancers is preventable by choosing a ‘cancer smart’ lifestyle. This means quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight and getting the health checkups that are appropriate for your age. “Early detection and early treatment make a real difference.”

“Blue Wednesday will be a great opportunity to educate the predominantly male students and tutors at the Future Trade campus about how they can make a difference to their own health.”

ENDS

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