Fieldays Success for Colossal Colon

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

15th June 2006

Fieldays Success for Colossal Colon

The ‘Colossal Colon’ has achieved site success – being awarded a merit award in the Eastern Exhibition category at this week’s Fieldays in Hamilton.

Exhibitors at Fieldays are judged on the way their site is presented and as the standard of site designs increases each year the competition is gets tougher, say organisers.

The site was recognised as a new initiative with really good pulling power to the public, particularly for its small size.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society is using the interactive ‘Colossal Colon’ complete with dunny and sound effects to talk about men’s health and bowel cancer.

Judy Gould, Cancer Society Chief Executive, says: “This is the society’s first visit to the Fieldays and we are very pleased to have been recognised with a merit award.

“We saw the Fieldays as an excellent opportunity to focus on men’s health, particularly with the vast range of people who visit the event and we are excited that our exhibit has captured public, and organiser’s, attention.”

The 5-metre long fiberglass colon was shipped up from Christchurch especially for Fieldays. It demonstrates a cross-section of the human colon or large bowel, and can be crawled through, walked around or visitors can peek through its windows to see how healthy colon tissue looks, as well as learning how the bowel works.

Judy says bowel health can be something people, particularly men, find embarrassing or difficult to talk about but bowel cancer is the second most common form of cancer in New Zealand with 2400 people diagnosed each year and about 1100 deaths.

“New Zealand has the highest incidence of bowel cancer in the OECD and while no single factor is to blame there is increasing evidence that lifestyle, particularly physical activity and good nutrition, are important factors in prevention.”

The exhibit also features information on other cancers and their prevention, and raises awareness about the Cancer Society’s services.

The Cancer Society is exhibiting in the Rural Living marquee.

ENDS

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