You're never too old to be bold is the message from one Waikato Police staff member who has made a visual statement to support Blue Friday, a day profiling the issue of Prostate Cancer.
Hamilton City Intelligence Support Officer, Bruce Tricklebank is himself a prostate cancer sufferer and he wanted to do something to help raise awareness of the issue and acknowledge those people who had helped in his treatment.
"The concept of the day, which is part of the larger 'Blue September' is all about raising public awareness, as part of that people are asked to wear blue and a lot of people are also painting their face blue with face paint sold by campaign backers Placemakers.
"I decided that instead of just painting my face blue I would do something a bitter bolder and so I got renowned Raglan Te Moko artist, Simon Te Wheoro, to do a Moko design on my face."
Bruce said about 600 men in New Zealand die every year from Prostate Cancer so if, as an about to turn 63-year-old, he could draw people's attention to the issue he was more than happy to.
"It took about 45 minutes to do and if it can encourage one person to look into doing something about the issue it was well worth it, men don’t talk to their doctors about their prostate or what they need to do to take care of it - and this has to change!"
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