Sizzling prostate campaign
September 6, 2010
LAST week, against the beautiful
backdrop of Sydney’s Jones Bay
Wharf, The Prostate Cancer
Foundation of Australia launched
its Sizzling September campaign
aimed at getting Aussies to host
BBQ’s to to raise both funds and
awareness for the charity’s cause.
Littered with male sporting, TV and
movie stars the event coincided
with the kick-off of International
Prostate Awareness Month.
Speaking at the event, Andrew
Giles, ceo of the Prostate Cancer
Foundation, cited AIHW figures
which estimate that in 2010 alone
around 20,000 Aussie men will be
diagnosed with prostate cancer and
more than 3,300 Australian men
will lose their life to this disease,
effectively making prostate cancer
not only Australia’s most commonly
diagnosed cancer, but also the
nation’s greatest cancer killer.
“What we’re trying to do is
encourage everyone to go out and
have a BBQ to talk about prostate
cancer and ideally to raise some
funds as well for our world class
research, awareness and support
that we run here in Australia,” Giles
told Pharmacy Daily.
As part of its campaign the
Prostate foundation has garnered
the support of the Commonwealth
Bank with a deal which will see
local branches stock $20 BBQ Kits
(tongs, apron, stubby holder and
napkins) which the public can buy
for their charity BBQ, the proceeds
of which will go directly to the PCFA.
“It’s really about taking away
some of the stigma associated with
prostate cancer,and that’s why
we’ve gone with the ‘big blokes’
idea and lots of sporting identities,
to try and show that if they’re
willing to talk about prostate cancer
then so should all guys,” Giles said,
referring to the sheer amount of
celebrities in attendance at the
launch and attached to the cause.
Speaking on the importance of
pharmacists in raising prostate
cancer awareness, Giles told PD
that “when the guys go to buy their
drugs, or have a conversation, they
normally go to their pharmacist,
they’re the most trusted industry in
the country.”
“So at the moment we’re actually
working on a campaign to get
information into all pharmacists in
the country, because we just think
that they’re such an untapped
resource.
“Pharmacists can play an
important educational role,” he
added.
In terms of getting onboard for
the September campaign, Giles
suggests the best way for
pharmacists to get involved is to
host a BBQ, check out the website
for more information, or to contact
the Foundation directly to organise
more potential education/
fundraising opportunities.
See www.prostate.org.au or call
1800 220 099.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 06 Sep 10To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 06 Sep 10
