May 19, 2011- Ambassadors announced for New Zealand's First Bowel Cancer Awareness week June 6-12, 2011
June 6 – 12 this year will mark New Zealand's first official Bowel Cancer Awareness week and Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa is pleased to announce an outstanding line up of ambassadors who are championing the cause.
Did you know more people die from bowel cancer in New Zealand than from prostate and breast cancers combined?
Bowel cancer is New Zealand's most common cancer. The good news is if detected and treated early, more than 70% of those diagnosed could be saved. A week designated to increasing awareness then, some would say, is long overdue and Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa are pleased to have the support of such high caliber spokespeople to do just that. "It is hard to believe that Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa was only launched one year ago," says Acting Chairperson for Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa Alison Ellison, "and that we have already achieved so much. We are excited to be holding our first nationwide Bowel Cancer Awareness week June 6 – 12. With the support of our ambassadors we will be spreading the message, 'Don't sit on your symptoms!'. Bowel cancer is detectable, treatable and beatable."
Introducing our Ambassadors:
Professor Sir Paul Callaghan
Sir Paul is a company director and Wellington scientist specialising in worldleading nanotechnology and magnetic resonance. He was named the New Zealander of the Year for 2011. Sir Paul is a bowel cancer sufferer and takes a scientist's interest in the progress of his disease. He is knowledgeable, articulate, funny, human and overwhelmingly philosophical about the situation he finds himself in.
Fleur Sullivan
Fleur is a well-known south island restaurateur, food author and businesswoman. Her landmark restaurant Fleur's Place in the sleepy little fishing village of Moeraki attracts international clientele and her food is world renown. The story a lot of people don‟t know about Fleur is that twelve years ago, she was given a diagnosis of aggressive bowel cancer. So, Fleur moved into hospital with her wine, cheese and pressing work to live through the process of surviving a cancer she describes as a "damn nuisance". Now 72 years old, Fleur wants Kiwis to know that being told you have cancer isn't a death sentence, as long as you take the time to get the diagnosis and treatment you need.
Shane Jones and John Carter MPs
While it would be rightly considered sensationalism to call these politicians 'bum-chums', it is true to say Shane and John are brothers in bowel cancer. They count themselves lucky to have survived the disease and are putting aside their scant political differences to encourage people not to sit on their symptoms.
Willie Lose
Willie is an ex-rugby captain for Tonga and current Sky TV Sports presenter and Newstalk ZB Radio Host. He recognises the appalling statistics bowel cancer reaps every year among New Zealanders and especially wants to get the message out to Maori and Pacific Island peoples, that regular check-ups keep families together and help kiwis to survive.
Dr Jared Noel
Jared Noel was 27 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He already had a degree in forensic science, had just completed his fifth year of medical school and was preparing to travel to Zambia with his wife. He was told he had a 40% chance of being alive in five years. Then, he was told it was unsurvivable. Jared is now 30 years old, has since graduated from medical school and is practicing as a Doctor at Auckland Hospital in between fortnightly chemotherapy. He enjoys photography, tramping and often speaks to groups about how to cope with life when things don't go to plan. Follow Jared on Twitter www.twitter.com/#!/DrJared
Interview with Dr Jared Noel From 'Breakfast' on TV One, Recorded 7 June 2011
Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa Incorporated - (CC44166) is a registered charitable entity
in terms of the Charities Act 2005. For more information about Beat Bowel Cancer
Aotearoa Incorporated, visit the Charities Register at www.charities.govt.nz