Thanks to the incredible support from customers and colleagues, Marks & Spencer has raised over £155,000 for Prostate Cancer UK as part of campaign to encourage more men to get checked for prostate cancer, as it sells over 40,000 packs of Autograph pants.
In February, M&S announced it had teamed up with Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and Prostate Cancer UK to encourage more men to take ‘a brief check’ for prostate cancer. The six-week campaign saw M&S leverage its UK market leading position in men’s underwear, along with its 32 million customers, 65,000 colleagues – and celebrity ambassadors, including football legend, Ian Wright – to spark a nationwide conversation about prostate cancer.
The campaign has encouraged men across the nation to use Prostate Cancer UK’s online Risk Checker – a quick and simple tool that enables men to find out their risk in 30 seconds and learn what they can do about it. At the end of January, Prostate Cancer UK revealed that prostate cancer is now England’s most common form of cancer, with cases rising by a quarter between 2019 and 2023. Today, one in eight men will get prostate cancer, and for Black men their risk is double. However, the earlier you find it, the easier it is to treat.
In just 40 days, over 180,000 men have completed the online risk checker – which can be found on Prostate Cancer UK’s website and was promoted by M&S via a QR code available in all of our Clothing & Home stores at point of sale and fitting rooms, as well as on the product listing webpages of men’s Autograph underwear on M&S.com. According to Prostate Cancer UK, of these online checks, over 148,000 were by men deemed at higher risk of getting prostate cancer, and so as a result were given advice to speak to their GP to discuss the PSA blood test. 1 in 5 now intend to speak to their GP as a result.
Mitch Hughes, menswear director, clothing & home at M&S, commented: “In just 40 days, together with our customers and colleagues, we have raised thousands of pounds to support Prostate Cancer UK’s ongoing research. But more than that, we have given men across the nation the confidence to take control and check their risk of prostate cancer. Back in February we set out to make a difference and get the nation talking. Today we know 1 in 5 men are now taking action to speak to their GP. I’m incredibly moved at the unwavering support we’ve had from our colleagues and customers who have got behind us throughout this campaign. There is so much more we know we need to do, this is just the beginning.”
Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The impact of this partnership has been phenomenal. Tens of thousands of men have checked their risk of getting prostate cancer after seeing the campaign in stores and online, and they’re now empowered to take the potentially life-saving action of talking to a GP about the PSA blood test. I’ve also loved hearing about M&S colleagues talking to each other about prostate cancer and raising awareness in their communities.
“The money raised will help us to support more men and their families as they navigate prostate cancer, and fund vital research like our TRANSFORM trial which will pave the way to a screening programme. We’re grateful to M&S colleagues and customers around the UK who have all played a part in making this happen and changing lives.
“Remember: the earlier you find prostate cancer, the easier it is to treat. You can take Prostate Cancer UK’s 30-second online Risk Checker right now.”
