Blue September

We're shining a spotlight on prostate cancer with Blue September. Did you know that here in New Zealand we have some of the highest rates in the world for men's health issues such as prostate cancer?

As many kiwis already know, men’s health issues have really been put on the back burner for too many years. By that I simply mean that the “she’ll be right” attitude does not lead to a healthy, happy life. In fact, here in New Zealand we have some of the highest rates in the world for mens health issues such as prostate cancer. Prostate cancer will affect 3,000 men this year and up to 500 will die from what can actually be a preventable disease… that is more than breast cancer!

So life is about quality…and quantity. This is a realisation I came to after the arrival of my son Jack. With one little blood test, we can monitor our health to ensure we follow our bliss and enjoy a long healthy life with the whanau!

I know for a fact that my father’s generation never talked about men’s health issues, I suppose they didn’t want to seem weak? My generation, on the other hand is changing this. We do talk to each other about our health and the imporatance of getting a health check… but we are not perfect.

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I want to show my son that it is nothing to talk openly about his feelings, and his health, in the hope that he and his friends will make a change to our world to ensure that health and life issues are talked about openly. After all, we’re all here to enjoy life together for as long as we can.

Visit the Blue September Facebook page to see what me and my fellow Blue September ambassadors have been up to…
This year why not host your own "Blue Do" - get your mates together for a social event and raise funds to fight prostate cancer - visit www.blueseptember.org.nz for more info.