Going Orange for Bladder Cancer Awareness

My passion for raising awareness of bladder cancer gets re-lit almost daily. Sometimes it is fuelled by a good news story. A story of someone who has come out the other side. Other times, it is sadly fuelled by someone else, unaware of the symptoms and diagnosed at a later stage, when it is often harder to treat.

I am always looking for new and innovative ways to get the message out there. To educate people just a little bit more. Before my diagnosis, I had never even heard of bladder cancer and had no clue of the symptoms. I know this is the same for many people I have met online and in person within the bladder cancer community.

It is important for me to do my bit – to raise awareness of bladder cancer. To give people the knowledge they need, should they need it for themselves or a family member or friend.

Raising awareness for bladder cancer

For some, a social media post will grab their attention. For others, it may be an information sheet in a doctor’s office that gets noticed.

In the UK each year, Fight Bladder Cancer and their partner organizations look to get famous landmarks lit up orange (the UK-recognized color for bladder cancer awareness) for Bladder Cancer Awareness Month in May.

Over the last year, I met with my local congressman, and through him, an event to raise awareness of bladder cancer was planned. It took place earlier this year. To support all this local support for a national cause close to my heart, I looked locally, to see what could be lit up for Bladder Cancer Awareness Month.

Last year, the giant Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow sculpture was completed. So, I thought this would be the perfect spot. The 33-foot tall stainless steel figures were designed by Scottish artist John McKenna. Together they weigh 14 tons. They are thought to be the largest sculpture of a shipbuilder in the UK and among the biggest of its kind in Western Europe. They are located in Port Glasgow, around 30 minutes from my home in Wemyss Bay.

I worked with my local Chamber of Commerce for Inverclyde and my local congressman’s office, to request the orange light-up. After some communication, this was approved.

Carrying the orange light forward

Last week after returning from my vacation, I met up with my local congressman. We visited the statue together as it was starting to get dark, to see it being lit up and turning orange. His office put posts up on Facebook and Instagram, tagging Fight Bladder Cancer to help spread the word. A press release quoting myself and my congressman was also featured in local newspapers.

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month is of course important. However, what we as advocates, patient leaders, and caregivers do to carry this light forward for the rest of the year is just as important.