Prostate Cancer UK - created by the merger of The
Prostate Cancer Charity and Prostate Action - has hit the ground
running by launching its MANifesto,
which it describes as the 'most significant and ambitious plan in
the history of men's health'.
The document was formally unveiled at an event at the May Fair
Hotel, in central London last night (Thursday 4
October). Amongst those attending and backing the launch were
HRH the Duchess of Gloucester, former Liberal Party Leader Lord
Steel, Lady Archer, PR guru Max Clifford, broadcaster Neil Fox,
ex-footballer, Mark Bright, comedian David Schneider, radio
presenter Mark Goodier, actors Neil Stuke and Kasha Pelka, TV
personality Tommy Walsh, BAFTA award winning screen writer Peter
Moffat and former Apprentice contestant Felicity Jackson.
Founded upon a sense of 'outrage' that men with prostate cancer
are so often given a raw deal, the document pledges to triple
investment in research into the disease to £25m, boost support
services for men throughout the nations and regions of the UK and
to dramatically increase awareness of the disease, the organisation
and its services by launching a major mass media communications and
PR offensive.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said:
"Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It is as big an
issue for men as breast cancer is for women, and is projected to be
the most common cancer overall by 2030. Despite these hard facts it
is just not on the radar. It has suffered from a prolonged period
of neglect and underinvestment, leaving us decades behind where we
need to be. October 4 2012 is the date when this all changes. From
now on, men matter too.
"Two of the most powerful players in men's health in the UK have
merged to form a new, united Prostate Cancer UK. Working with our
partner and benefactor, The Movember Foundation, there's nothing we
can't achieve for men.
"Today is about a new start for men. We are tripling our
investment in research to become the largest single funder of
prostate cancer research in the country. We are developing new
community support services to help men throughout the nations and
regions of the UK. We are educating more health care professionals
about prostate cancer and prostate disease. We are making new
information available to men, including the boosting of our unique
telephone and email helpline services. And we are promoting all
this by launching our first ever mass media communications
campaign. We must not be afraid to 'rattle the cage'. We need to,
and will, wake up the nation to this cause and its importance.
"Men deserve better. From this day forward, that is what
Prostate Cancer UK is absolutely committed to ensuring they
get."
Broadcaster Neil Fox, whose father died of prostate cancer,
said: "For all too long men's cancers have just not been high
enough up the agenda. From today onwards, Prostate Cancer UK has
vowed to ensure all that changes. The launch of the new movement,
and its comprehensive MANifesto, promises a new era of hope for men
and men's health. I am delighted to have been part of this
ground-breaking launch, and look forward to supporting many great
developments over the years ahead.
"Men's health is an issue that has been effectively ignored for
all too long. Let's commit to ensuring it is never ignored
again."
Please view our MANifesto here