Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ is the organisation behind Blue September, the foundation’s biggest campaign of the year, where New Zealanders join with their friends, colleagues and loved ones across the month of September to raise much needed funds and awareness of prostate cancer.

“With no government support, the funds raised from Blue September is vital in making sure that those affected can get the essential help they need,” said foundation chief executive Peter Dickens.

“We hope that Blue Dos up and down the country will raise more than $1 million of much needed funds, with every cent going towards helping the charity to provide essential wrap-around support services for men and their whānau living with prostate cancer.”

A cancer diagnosis can be a major life stress, affecting not only the individual concerned, but those around them. The foundation is there when they need it the most, and demand for our programme of services is growing exponentially. This is particularly evident in the increasing calls to our free information and counselling services, applications for welfare grants and, registrations for Prost-FIT classes and the Prostate Cancer Patient Empowerment Programme.

Additionally, for the first time this year people can text the word “BLUE” to 2449 to make a $3 donation to the cause.

A major goal of Blue September is to get people talking about prostate cancer.

Key Messages:

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men.

- 1 in 8 men will develop prostate cancer at some stage in their lifetime.

- 4000 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and over 700 will die.

- There are often no symptoms in the early stages - early detection is vital.

- A PSA blood test is all it takes to start the process.

- If you’re over 50 consider a prostate check as part of your annual health WOF.

This should start from 45 if there is a known family history of prostate cancer, or from 40 if known to have the BRCA2 mutation.

To find out more visit prostate.org.nz or call 0800 66 0800.