Step aside Calendar Girls, the South West boys have outstripped you. Doing their bit for testicular cancer, men from across the South West have whipped off their clothes to participate in the 2016 calendar for the regional fundraising organisation, It’s in the Bag.
Proudly sporting just a pair of It’s in the Bag iconic orange pants, 12 groups including members of the Exeter Chiefs squad, employees from Devon-based Burts Chips and the Bristol Beer Factory are pictured on the playing fields and the factory floor, to raise awareness of testicular cancer.
With the average age of diagnosis for testicular cancer being 32 years, it is the most common cancer in men aged between 15-45 years. 220 young men in the South West (Hereford to Truro) are diagnosed each year (2,200 diagnosed across the UK as a whole) with early diagnosis the key to effective treatment and survival. With 96% of young men diagnosed with testicular cancer cured, raising awareness of the disease to encourage men to self-check on a monthly basis is key.
Sue Brand, Chair at It’s in the Bag, commented: “Generating awareness of testicular cancer is vital to improve the well-being of hundreds of the South-West’s testicular cancer patients and their families, and our 2016 calendar demonstrates how we like to do that – through having fun! We’re thrilled that so many organisations were keen to get involved and undress to just our orange pants.”
Simon Knight, Sales & Marketing Director at Burts Chips, commented: “It’s in the Bag provides an invaluable service and support for men in the region affected by this disease, and our employees were proud to strip down to their smalls to showcase the best of the South West.
“And our support of It’s in the Bag doesn’t stop there. As part of our Do It Right autumn campaign we are encouraging consumers to enter our competition to celebrate real men and for every nomination received Burts will make a contribution to It’s in the Bag.”
With the calendar available to purchase from 22nd September from http://its-in-the-bag.myshopify.com/ , make sure you check to see if a company local to you has been brave enough to bare all to fundraise for It’s in the Bag:
January: Out of Hand
February: Sam FM
March: Big Yellow (Ashton Gate)
April: Burts Potato Chips
May: Bristol Beer Factory
June: It’s in the Bag 10x10k Challenge
July: Exeter Chiefs
August: Steak of the Art
September: Dogs and Demons
October: Grillstock
November: VMR Publicity
December: Le Tour de Balls
