Why are you campaigning now? What is the urgency?
Prostate cancer kills one man every hour and the number of men
with the disease is rising at an alarming rate. While it is already
the most common cancer in men, it is predicted to become the most
common cancer of all in the UK by 2030.
Prostate cancer is as big an issue for men as breast cancer is
for women. The two diseases are similar in terms of incidence, with
one in eight women and one in nine men, respectively, diagnosed
every year. Despite this, £42 million was spent on breast cancer
research in 2010, while research into prostate cancer received £16
million — almost three times less.
To make the future truly better for men, we must mobilise and
inspire many more supporters and funders. This campaign is a call
to arms to bring people together to make a real difference.
Together we can crack it.
Why should I get involved?
We need money to find the answers that can help more men
survive. Money raised will also help us provide vital information
and to continue to lead change, raising the profile of the disease
and improving care.
What do you want people to do?
We want people to join us in a movement to crack this particular
nut. Prostate cancer has been neglected for too long, and we need
everyone to get behind this campaign. We really want people to talk
about this disease. It really is Britain's best kept worst secret
and we need everyone with us to get it out in the open. Prostate
Cancer UK is also encouraging people to donate £5 to the
Sledgehammer Fund and find out more about the disease on our website.
People can also donate by texting CRACK to 70004 or calling 0800
082 1199.
What do you want men in particular to do?
We need men to take control of their health and find out more.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, so they
need to be aware of it, particularly men over 50, African Caribbean
men and those with a family history, who are all at increased risk
of the disease.
We want men to know that if they need support, Prostate Cancer
UK is here for them. They can find out more about the disease on our website.
How long does the campaign last?
The Sledgehammer Fund will take place from 1 January until 31
March 2013.
Is the Sledgehammer Fund raising money for something
specific?
The Sledgehammer Fund is raising money to support Prostate
Cancer UK and all its work to fight prostate cancer and support men
confronting the disease. Prostate Cancer UK finds answers by
funding research; supports men and provides vital information; and
leads change, raising the profile of the disease and improving
care.
Here’s what a donation could buy:
- £25 could give a man diagnosed with prostate cancer unlimited
time to talk over treatment options with one of our Specialist
Nurses.
- £100 will pay for the production of 5,000 information leaflets,
which could help us reach and protect 5,000 men — or more.
- £500 could pay for two GPs to be trained at one of our prostate
cancer masterclasses.
- £1,000 could support a week’s worth of research into treating
advanced prostate cancer.
How much money do you expect to raise?
While raising money is an essential element, the first purpose
of the campaign is to create mass awareness of the issues
surrounding prostate cancer in order to make it a cause worth
investing in. We know this make take some time, which is why we are
committed to investing in communications over a three year
period.
What are the adverts all about?
The leading idea is that although the prostate is as small as a
walnut, it’s a hard nut to crack and it’s going to take a
sledgehammer to do that. A series of hard-hitting TV, digital and
print adverts
will appear in national media from 1 January to 31 March.
Our campaign is set to reach up to 96 per cent of men and women
aged over 45 across the UK. And those people will have the
opportunity to see or hear the adverts over eight times! Therefore,
urgent information about prostate cancer should reach nearly all
the men in the UK who are at a high risk of developing prostate
cancer, and their families. The adverts and the accompanying press
activity is set to inform many thousands more men about prostate
cancer and raise much more money for all our vital work.
If people have any concerns or questions about prostate cancer,
what should they do?
If anyone has any questions or concerns about prostate cancer,
please call our Prostate Cancer UK helpline, which is staffed
by specialist nurses, on 0800 074 8383.
Tell us what you think about our campaign at web@prostatecanceruk.org.