Our Blog

The inaugural Blue September Ireland launched yesterday with the aim of challenging Irish men to face up to cancer. Blue September Ireland will raise awareness of bowel, lung, prostate and testicular cancer, while fundraising for the following Irish charities; Cancer Care West, The Marie Keating Foundation, The Mater Foundation and The Mercy Hospital Foundation.

It turned out to be a great launch with an appearance on TV3 news at 5.30pm yesterday.

Blue September Irelan is encouraging those who wish to support the campaign to host a blue event, by either painting their faces blue one day in September, hosting a blue themed day in work or to create a completely new blue idea to raise vital funds.

Key supporters at the launch yesterday included An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Bernard Jackman, Trent Johnson, Karl Henry, Mr. Gerry McEntee who is Consultant Surgeon at the Mater Hospital. Sile Seoige was also on hand to demonstrate the important role women play in encouraging the men in their life to become more aware of their health.

Blue September was a concept developed in New Zealand in 2008 on behalf of The Prostate Cancer Foundation in New Zealand. In Australia it is celebrated on behalf of Bowel Cancer Australia and The Australian Cancer Research Foundation, in California it is on behalf of The Prostate Cancer Foundation. Blue September will also launch this year on behalf of the Men’s Health Forum.  This is part of a growing global initiative to encourage men to face up to cancer.

Blue September Ireland supports Cancer Care West, Marie Keating Foundation, the Mater Foundation, The Mercy University Hospital Foundation and The Prostate Cancer Institute.

Visit www.blueseptember.ie  to see faces and videos of people who have gone blue in an effort to try and get men to ‘face’ up to cancer.

Follow us on twitter @TheMaterFoundat and Facebook www.facebook.com/materfoundation to keep up to date this September on all the events and on how you can help.