The programme, provided by HealthScreen UK, offered male staff over the age of 40 a free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test following a workshop. Invitations were extended to family and friends of female staff, as well as to men under 40.
The organisation created its ‘Be A Hero’ campaign when its managing director, Robin Stanton-Gleaves, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014.
The scheme emphasised the importance of early cancer detection. Workshops took place at Balreed’s eight offices in Wakefield, Bristol, Birmingham, Maidstone and London.
Kim Mason, HR adviser at Balreed, says: “Cancer is all you read and hear about. It’s worrying to see younger people getting cancer, so raising awareness is important.
“The campaign encouraged our male-dominated workforce to make sure they’re aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer, and to feel comfortable enough to talk about it.
“It really had the desired effect, and by [Stanton-Gleaves] standing up and saying ‘this is what I have and this is what I have to deal with’, we’re encouraging a more open culture around health, which is now a general consensus.”
