BLUE SEPTEMBER NEWS

Range News - Spreading message with the colour blue

Last Updated: Friday 17th of September 2010 at 04:41:05 PM

THIS month has a noticeable blue hue thanks to Blue September, a campaign which encourages men to face up to cancer. Proudly supporting the Australian Cancer Research Foundation and Bowel Cancer Australia, Blue September is an initiative to increase awareness of men's cancers while raising money for cancer research.

Each year 22,000 Australian men are expected to die of cancer, with one in two Australian men being diagnosed with cancer at some stage of their life by age 85. Blue September is aimed at raising awareness about cancers that affect thousands of men each year in Australia, but which can often be prevented through lifestyle choices.

At the core of the campaign is the fact that more than 59.000 new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in Australian men this year. However, the number of cases could be reduced significantly by choosing healthy lifestyle choices. Since 2008 Blue September has been painting the town and faces everywhere blue to raise awareness and support for men's cancer.

Last year in Australia and New Zealand, everything and everyone seemed to be getting involved, from Julia Gillard to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was turned blue with lights for the event. The campaign slogan, Men Facing Up To Cancer, is brought to life by men, women and children painting their faces blue or expressing blue in some other way. Famous faces including those of sporting legends, celebrities and other prominent Australians will be turning blue, painting their faces to help raise awareness for the campaign.

Blue September spokespeople, events and messages will be encouraging men to commit to some key healthy lifestyle choices, including Quitting smoking or helping a mate quit smoking; Taking care in the sun; I Having a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight; I Being physically active; I Reducing alcohol intake; and I Having age-appropriate checkups and screening tests at their GP.

People can support the campaign and put themselves in the running to win a new blue Hyundai i20 Elite by going to the Blue September website www.blueseptember.org.au