Cancer charity looking to ‘lock up men in jail’

Cancer charity looking to ‘lock up men in jail’

1 June 2016

ONE of the Province’s leading cancer charities is looking for men to be “locked up in jail” to help raise funds for the organisation.

Cancer Focus NI’s innovative “jail a male” fundraiser will see men locked up at the Down County Gaol, with the charity planning to issue arrest warrants for locals keen to take part in the event in aid of Men’s Health Month.

The charity wants people to nominate a male who will be arrested, detained and condemned to the cells at the Downpatrick gaol until a £300 bail figure is raised for Cancer Focus.

The charity wants people to assist them in the identification and arrest of men in their life, whether it’s their boss, teacher, partner, father or friend, to take part in the fundraiser and help lower the risk of men’s cancers in Northern Ireland.

All inmates will be imprisoned in the historic buildings of the 18th century county gaol in Downpatrick, but before being locked up they will be escorted on a tour of the English Street complex.

While there, all ‘prisoners’ will receive a health check from the Cancer Focus NI’s cancer prevention team and will be treated to prison lunch before release.

The charity’s community fundraiser, Eoin Treanor, explained that every year in Northern Ireland, around 4,000 men are diagnosed with cancer. 

“That’s a startling statistic considering over half of all cancers can be prevented by making healthier lifestyle choices,” he said. “The money raised from ‘jail a male’ will be used to fund the Cancer Focus NI Man Van, a mobile health service that brings lifesaving messages to our community and workplaces, helping to lower the risk of cancer.”

Eoin said men who visit the van can have their body composition and measurements assessed, their cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose checked and get one-to-one health awareness advice.

He added: “We need people to help us arrange the arrests of someone they know to allow us to continue to offer this valuable service to the people of Northern Ireland. Sentencing and jailing will take place on Thursday, June 16, at the Downpatrick gaol.” 

To arrange an ‘arrest’ or for more information, contact the Cancer Focus NI Law Enforcement Office by tomorrow, telephone (028) 9068 0758 or emailing fundraising@cancerfocusni.org.