A South Australian initiative to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer will also raise a few eyebrows as men and women all over Australia get set to ditch their work pants in favour of a pair of cotton boxer shorts on Friday, November 28.
Pants Day Off is the brainchild of Adelaide fashion agent Suzanne Gallard who represents a number of brands including Sant and Abel, a range of 100 per cent cotton boxer shorts and sleepwear designed by expat Sophie Lovejoy.
“Prostate cancer kills more men each year than breast cancer kills women, yet it only has a fraction of the awareness and funding,” said Gallard.
“I wanted to do something with one of my designers and a charity and Sant and Abel was the perfect fit because of the perceived link between tight underwear and prostate cancer – there are no hard facts about it, but cotton boxers are breathable and let the scrotum hang freely.”
Gallard’s concept is that individuals and groups registering with Pants Day Off will be set up with a personal “Everyday Hero” online sponsorship page to raise money for their “pants off” endeavours with prizes awarded to the highest fundraisers and the best photos.
“We presented the idea to Karyn Foster who is the state manager of the Prostate Cancer Foundation to see what her board’s reaction was and they loved it,” explained Gallard. “Karyn then presented it to the CEO and national board and they loved the idea too.
“Because we’re all Adelaide-based we decided to drive the campaign from here. It’s going to be an annual event.”
The plan is to get sporting teams and corporate businesses involved.
“Everyone likes to be competitive and Pants Day Off is an opportunity to do something crazy in your boxers and post the evidence on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter – Steven Trigg (formerly of the Crows, now with Carlton) has already said he will come on board.”
Pants Day Off is also encouraging women to participate.
“Quite often it is the female partner in a couple who pushes the male partner to get a prostate check, so we’re opening up Pants Day Off to women as well as many would be happy wearing men’s boxers or sleep shorts on the day.”
Gallard said that in Australia 22,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year with one in five men diagnosed by age 85. About 120,000 men in Australia are currently living with the disease.
She hopes that the campaign will be just as successful as the Motor Neurone Disease Ice Bucket Challenge in increasing awareness for the disease.
“Our next project after Pants Day Off with be an Undie 500 run down Rundle Mall in April,” said Gallard. “This will be run concurrently in each state and country town.”
In further support of Pants Day Off, Sant and Abel is offering discounted prices on boxers and sleepwear to Pants Day Off participants and will donate $5 from every pair of boxers sold to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
