Check Yo Nutz

Check You Nutz!Yes, you heard me: Check Yo Nutz!

That’s the name of a new health education campaign launched today by Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Canisius College. The goal is to raise awareness about testicular cancer and teach the importance of self examination. It’s an irreverent take on a heavy subject, complete with a mascot named Sammy the Squirrel. Here’s the mission statement:

Sammy the Squirrel knows the importance of checking his nutz and encourages males 15 to 40 to check theirs too. You think we’re nutz; we think we’re saving lives.

My favorite part is what they’re handing out: little squeezy foam acorns (pictured) that are fun to hold in your hand, toss at your friends, or just leave sitting on your desk at work. Like the real thing. Acorns, that is.

The campaign started as the brainchild of a Canisius College communication class (yes, I know it’s Canisius week on my blog) and was later picked up by Roswell — and while the Check Yo Nutz campaign is hilarious, testicular cancer is no joke.

The Amercican Cancer Institute estimated that about 8,400 new cases would be diagnosed in 2009 — and that it would kill nearly 400 men. It’s important to catch it early — and testicular self-exams are the key. The disease is most common in young men, exactly the people who will find this funny.

Roswell Park should be applauded for being smart and savvy enough to put their name on the Nutz campaign. One could easily imagine a concept like this being axed by the sort of uptight prudes who kill many great ideas. You’re never going to bore people into action. Engage and entertain them and they will remember your message — even if it’s a very serious message.

Anyway, gentlemen: Check Yo Nutz.

14 thoughts on “Check Yo Nutz

  1. OT- Bella Napoli rocks… but I am biased since my three sisters work there!

    Back on topic- I think it’s great if a play on words is enough to get people checking for cancer. I just hope the prudes of the world don’t flip out like they did with the boobies braclet.

  2. I LOVE this campaign – -and I love campaigns designed by Communication Classes. OK, so I’m partial – I teach a couple at the University at Albany! My campaign practicum class, each spring, designs a public education campaign targeting their peers on Organ and Tissue Donation. Their campaign this year pushes the envelope (based on the boobies bracelet and t-shirts) – it’s called: The Big O — as in: Do You Give the Big O? It’s a great campaign. Leave it to the younger generation to get folks to pay attention to serious issues . . . in a light hearted and fun way. So here’s to loving boobies, checking your nutz and giving the big O!

  3. Just so you know, I was diagnosed at 47. Men who had undecsended testicle (even if corrected) as an infant, are gazillion times more prone for testicular cancer. Also, if you have surgury to remove bad apple (the only method used is removal), be certain to ask for a prosthetic replacement, which can only be done at the time of surgury. It seemed silly at the time, but now I walk around with one ball and am self-consious in new relationships. Others with one ball: Adolf Hitler, film director who made JFK.

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