HECK! urge men to CHECK!

The co-founder of HECK! Food, who has made a full recovery from testicular cancer, is leading a campaign to urge men on the importance of checking for the disease.

And the famous brand is launching a limited edition chicken sausage range named CHECK! throughout Men’s Health Awareness Month in November.

Jamie Keeble was diagnosed with the disease in 2015 and he’s now fully recovered, married and has recently had his first child.  

Last month HECK! Food commissioned a YouGov poll of more than 1000 people which revealed nearly one in four of our British men are steering clear of checking their testicles for cancer because they don’t know how to do it properly.

The survey also revealed other key reasons why men put off checking themselves regularly and speaking to their GP.

Answers included embarrassment - nine per cent - not wanting to tell their spouse - four per cent -  not wanting to tell their family i.e. parents or children - five per cent - fear of finding something wrong - 12 per cent - or thinking they aren’t old enough to get the disease - five per cent.

In the UK, testicular cancer is diagnosed in around 2,300 men every year and is the number one cancer diagnosed in men aged between 15 and 34 (source Nuffield Health). 

And HECK! have partnered with Cahonas, the charity dedicated to raising awareness about testicular cancer and shouting about the benefits of self-checks and early detection, to lunch its new CHECK! campaign and North Yorkshire sausage and burger firm changing its name from HECK! to CHECK! on its chicken sausage packs throughout November.

The special edition packs will carry QR codes directing people to the charity’s website and life-saving information on how to check, and a percentage of the sales from each pack will be donated to Cohonas.

HECK! has also created a page on its website with a link to Cahonas for people to get more information and the company is also organising a men’s health MOT site for its employees at its headquarters neat Thirsk in November, offering a quick and easy blood test and access to advice and information, particularly around how to check for signs of testicular cancer and prostate cancer.

Jamie said: “This research shows that awareness is key, which is why we’re launching our CHECK! campaign this November. Testicular cancer is on the rise and men can reduce their chances of dying simply by knowing what to feel for.

”I found a small lump, immediately went to my GP and received my diagnosis. Even though a lot of stigma surrounds going to the doctor for such an intimate area, it’s vital to be proactive if you find a lump. I’m now completely recovered and my wife and I recently celebrated the birth of our first child, which is amazing.

“Sadly, our research shows too many men would ignore it if they found something unusual and that many are unsure how to correctly check themselves. Our campaign aims to raise awareness, remove stigmas and get the subject of this disease discussed more openly, so that more men will check themselves and feel comfortable coming forward to talk to someone if something doesn’t feel right.”

Ritchie Marshall, founder and chief executive of Cahonas, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with HECK as they rebrand to CHECK for November. This campaign has the potential to spark vital conversations about men’s health in supermarkets across the country. 

“Our mission is to raise awareness of testicular cancer and encourage men to take action. Early detection is key, as it leads to more effective treatment and higher survival rates. HECK has found a fun and impactful way to share this important message, and we hope everyone joins in by learning how to self-check and spread the word. Every check could make a life-changing difference.”

The CHECK! chicken sausage packs will be available from Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose throughout November and HECK! will be running a social media campaign across its channels and working with high profile influencers on gifting special packs to raise awareness.

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