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Testicular Cancer Information Talks

Orchid strives to increase awareness of testicular cancer where ever possible.  As a cancer that mainly effects men between the ages of 15 to 45 and with a high survival rate if caught early it is extremely important to promote awareness of self examination from a young age.

Orchid is regularly asked to provide fun and informative testicular cancer sessions to schools, colleges and universities.  This could be to a whole school during an assembly session, to individual PSHE classes or an information stand as part of a well-being day.

We have a range of speakers such as our Founder, staff, research team and several volunteers who have a personal experience to share.  We regularly show our award winning DVD 'Know your balls check em' out!'. 

If you would like to organise an event at your school or volunteer as a speaker at events please e-mail info@orchid-cancer.org.uk or call 0203 465 5766.

Here are a few of the events that we have attended recently:

Felsted Preparatory School, 24 June 2011

Orchid's Founder and ex-testicular cancer speak Colin Osborne was asked to provide a testicular cancer talk using our 'Know your balls check em' out!' DVD during the PSHCE session for 140 mixed year 7 and 8 pupils.  Felsted is an independent school based in Essex.

"It was certainly an enlightening, honest and informative talk and our pupils have talked of little else this week. It is, and was, a very necessary topic to talk about and I am grateful to Colin for taking the time to come and talk to us. I look forward to inviting Colin back in the near future." Mark Stringer, Head of Year 7 & 8.

Brentside High School, 10th March 2011

Orchid representative and ex-testicular cancer patient Mike Wilson-Hague provided a testicular cancer information stand at the schools health fair for their 240 year 11 pupils.

Jill Bell, School Health Advisor commented that "the event was successful and Mike was brilliant".
 

Rosshall Academy, 24 January 2011

Orchid's volunteer speaker Jamie Fowler presented Orchid's testicular cancer DVD 'Know your balls check em' out!' to 240 boys and girls in year S4.  The school had been impressed with the DVD content on ordering their own copy but felt the message would be more effectively received by the pupils if presented by an external speaker. 

"Just wanted to pass on our thanks to Jamie and yourselves. The presentation went really well and the pupils really appreciated it all. Jamie was keen to have the girls there as well so he had around 240 pupils and he was great with them."  Jenny Dougall, PT Pastoral Care  

Simon Langton Boys School, Canterbury, and The Community College Whitstable, 18 January 2011

Cancer survivor and Orchid supporter Rob Waite, urged over 500                                        sixth form students to check for testicular cancer.  He visited both schools to talk to the pupils about the disease and to tell his story of survival.

Rob said: “It’s been quite a personal journey for me. To be able to stand in front of so many people to explain the benefits of self-inspection and to let them know how easy it is to check your self was a real privilege. I can only hope that my message got through and that the students go home and perform this monthly examination. I’ve been given a second chance and if I have helped save the life of one person, I’ll be happy. Finding out you have cancer is a real shock and I hope that by talking about the importance of self inspection, it will mean students have a better chance of beating the disease like I did.”

Burton Borough School - 22nd November 2010

Burton Borough School held two cancer information sessions for their year 11 students. A nurse talked to the girls about cervical screening and breast awareness, while Orchid supporter Jamie Fowler spoke to 120 year 11 boys on testicular cancer. He used a powerpoint presentation in the school hall and showed Orchid's popular DVD 'Know your balls check em' out!'. PSHE Co-ordinator, Jackie Wynn, informed us that 'James was excellent. My Head was in the hall and said how good he was!'.

Davenant Foundation School - 22nd October 2010

Orchid's founder Colin Osborne and celebrity supporter Jerry Shedden both shared their experiences of having testicular cancer using Orchid’s ‘Know your balls check em’ out!’ DVD, with 200 pupils at the school in Essex.

"This talk was interactive, entertaining but also very informative. Students responded warmly to the friendly style of the two speakers from Orchid who managed to combine a lively humorous talk with important, essential messages. Students were drawn in quickly as a result of the excellent rapport built up by Colin and Jerry. This event had considerable impact on the students. Many felt that the subject matter was very important and indeed did report that this was the most compelling talk of the day." Margaret Lamb, Head of PSHCEE
 

Poole High School – 2nd July 2010

Orchid’s Founder Colin Osborne and celebrity supporter Jerry Shedden were asked to provide awareness sessions on testicular cancer. Boys from years 8 through to 11 were split into year groups and three individual talks of 45 minutes were held in the school theatre. After a light hearted introduction including Colin’s and Jerry’s personal experience of testicular cancer, Colin and Jerry used Orchid’s ‘Know your balls check em’ out!’ DVD which was extremely well received by the boys. They followed this with a Q&A session.

Juliet Hussey, Healthy Schools Co-ordinator commented “The talk was very successful and many tutors reported discussions between the boys after the talks. I think they were astonished that it was so relevant to them, cancer is after all seen by most kids to be mainly an old person disease. I was also impressed by the feedback I got from the male teachers who attended the talks, they also learnt a lot and were impressed by the boys positive involvement in the sessions. The best Q and A was from our yr 10 boys, notoriously the most difficult group to engage. I think some of the questions were designed to shock but Colin and Jerry answered all the questions seriously (and humourously sometimes) and this I think gave the other students the confidence to ask searching and personal things. A complete success.”

Twyford CE High School – 2nd July 2010

The school held a health fair for their 6th formers at the end of the summer term. Orchid was asked to provide a table displaying information on testicular cancer including our information wallet cards, posters and DVD. Orchid’s speaker Peter Withey was delighted to report that the pupils were very engaged. The school was so impressed that they have re-booked us again for next year’s health fair. The event was organised by the Schools Health Advisor based at Acton Health Centre and the Head of PSHE at Twyford.
 

Phoenix School– 28th June 2010

After meeting Orchid’s representative at one of the regional PSHE conferences in March 2010, Phoenix School asked Orchid to provide a lunchtime talk on testicular cancer to 160 pupils from Key Stage 4. They specifically asked for information on male cancers and to promote the need for regular self examination.

West Herts College – 6th May 2010

The college organised a Summer Safety Fair for 300 pupils aged 16 years and above. Ex-cancer patient O’Shawn La Gree represented Orchid at the event. Feedback from staff and students alike was overwhelmingly positive. Enrichment Co-ordinator, Frances Scudder commented that ‘this was a valuable day for our students, highlighting many issues which potentially affect them. The day was both thought provoking and engaging and our students will have benefited from participating in the event.’
 

PSHE Conferences - February to March 2010

Orchid was invited to exhibit at the PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) conferences in Leicester, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Guildford and London. Each of these conferences was attended by over 100 PSHE education co-ordinators, PSHE teachers and Healthy Schools Advisers. Along with representatives from other cancer charities, Orchid staff were able to promote the importance of cancer awareness on the PSHE program, explaining the particular benefits of teaching self checks and improved testicular cancer awareness as the highest incidence for this cancer is between 15 - 45 years. The ‘Know Your Balls...Check Em Out!’ DVD resource pack continues to be a huge success with schools. There was positive feedback on this resource by those that had used it.