PlaceMakers raise $70,000 for Blue September
At PlaceMakers Mt Wellington, CEO John Beveridge presented a giant cheque for $70,000 to Barry Young of the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The company had raised the money for the Blue September appeal.
Blue September is a global awareness campaign dedicated to confronting prostate cancer, with country programmes operating across Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. By uniting people in blue, the campaign builds a shared visual identity that makes an often-silent health topic impossible to ignore, encouraging men to speak openly about risk, testing and support.
The campaign's strength lies in community-driven storytelling. News and community updates share personal experiences, awareness milestones, fundraising successes and partner contributions, all focused on raising the profile of prostate cancer. This emphasis on real voices helps reduce the stigma and silence that frequently surround men's health, and places ordinary people at the centre of the message rather than behind it.
Fundraising and corporate partnerships form a core part of the Blue September model. Businesses and community groups contribute time, resources and revenue-generating activities, with funds directed toward prostate cancer research, support services and awareness programmes. These partnerships give organisations a visible and meaningful way to take part in the campaign while helping expand its reach into new communities and networks.
Participation in Blue September is deliberately simple and open, so anyone can get involved. Wearing blue, organising a challenge, sharing a story, supporting a local event or encouraging a friend to speak with a healthcare professional all count as contributions. The message is that collective, visible action in a single distinctive colour can shift attitudes toward prostate cancer and, in doing so, improve early detection and outcomes for men everywhere.