June 2022 is bowel cancer awareness month, and Bowel Cancer NZ's annual Move Your Butt challenge.

This fundraiser encourages all New Zealanders to get off their butts and move more in June, which helps fund vital research and support for bowel cancer patients.

Bowel Cancer NZ ambassador and TVNZ Breakfast presenter Jenny-May Clarkson encourages Kiwis to sign up for Move Your Butt as her brother died from bowel cancer at age 54.

'Sometimes pushing yourself to move isn't all that comfortable, but neither is bowel cancer. We're all going through tough times right now, but those with cancer are doing it tougher.

'Doing the Move your Butt challenge is just one thing we can all do to raise awareness of bowel cancer and to acknowledge that it is hard for patients and their families, especially in a Covid environment."

The campaign runs from June 1 -30, and Bowel Cancer NZ asks all New Zealanders – young or old, fit or unfit – to Move their Butts more during June. The challenge does not need to be extreme - it simply means exercising a little more than you usually do.

'Every day, on average, eight Kiwis will be diagnosed with bowel cancer, and three people will die from it," says Bowel Cancer NZ's general manager, Rebekah Heal.

"By joining us, you'll be raising vital funds for research and patient support services such as counselling, which is needed more than ever. We receive no government funding and rely on the generosity of New Zealanders to help us continue the important work we do.”

Rebekah says this June, they aim to get all Kiwis off the couch and moving more – even if it's just a 10-minute walk a day.

"Everyone who takes part will be helping themselves prevent bowel cancer– and by getting their friends and family to sponsor them, they'll be raising valuable funds for an important cause," says Rebekah.

"Together, let's get moving to beat the devastating impact of bowel cancer at moveyourbutt.org.nz."

Bowel Cancer New Zealand encourages open discussion about bowel cancer with medical professionals and avoiding ‘sitting on your symptoms'.

These include:

• Bleeding from the bottom or seeing blood in the toilet after a bowel motion;
• Change of bowel motions over several weeks without returning to normal;
• Persistent or periodic severe pain in the abdomen;
• A lump or mass in the abdomen;
• Tiredness and loss of weight for no particular reason;
• Anaemia.

Those who have a family history of bowel cancer or want to do regular checks can talk to their GP and if you have symptoms, we advise seeing your GP immediately.

More information on bowel cancer and Bowel Cancer NZ can be found at www.bowelcancernz.org.nz or on Move Your Butt at www.moveyourbutt.org.nz