Blue September Message “Dads do it for your kids”

PRESS RELEASE September 1, 2011

Blue September Message “Dads do it for your kids”

The Prostate Cancer Foundation’s Blue September campaign launched last night at SKYCITY with one clear message: ‘Dad’s, get checked for your kids.’

Emcee, Actor and father of three Shane Cortese asked for a show of hands from the men in the audience who was a dad or granddad. Almost all the male guests raised their hands. “It’s a simple blood test. Get it done” he said.

Keynote speaker and former CEO of Fisher&Paykel John Bongard spoke about the “annoying “ doctor who put him through routine blood tests to check his PSA levels, the common test used to check for prostate cancer.

“As it turned out I wasn’t ten foot tall and bulletproof. The tests saved my life.”

Bongard was diagnosed in 2008 aged just 54. After discussions with his family he made the difficult decision to leave the company he had been with for 35 years to fully recover and lead a less stressful life.

“If I can encourage just one bloke to go and get a check by talking about this, I will be very happy, “he said.

Fight For Life celebrity boxer Slade McFarland celebrated his birthday at the launch, winning the spot prize of professional portrait photography donated by Suzanna Burton and helping with the charity auction that raised $6000 for The Prostate Cancer Foundation. McFarland will be fighting for prostate cancer awareness alongside heavyweights from the world of rugby and league come December 3, when the Woodstock Reserve Fight for Life makes its charity comeback to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

Other guests at the launch included former All Black Buck Shelford, racing car driver Jonny Reid, The Edge Breakfast Host Mike Puru, presenter at large Hillary Timmins and NZ Men’s Health Trust Chairwoman Colleen Thurston.

ENDS

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