By Isle of Wight Observer
Five eye-catching toilets placed across the Island earlier this week, attracting lots of social media comments, have turned out to be part of a campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
The ‘Your Loo Could Save You’ campaign aims to encourage Islanders to recognise the symptoms of bowel cancer, one of the most common but treatable cancers if found early. It also urges people aged 50 to 74 to return the at-home screening tests routinely sent out by the NHS.
Because many symptoms are linked to going to the toilet, organisers at One Wight Health, the federation of GP practices on the Island, used painted toilets to draw attention to the campaign. The loos appeared overnight at locations including Northwood Park in Cowes, Yarmouth Quay, Harvey Browns in Arreton, Brading Viewpoint car park, and Ventnor Park.
The toilets were donated by Claygate & Woods Trade Supplies in Shanklin. Island Roads secured them in place and Staddlestones Garage provided a van. Local artists, Holly Maslen, Maddy Dobson, Josh Raffell, Gemma Mallinson and Nathan Holt, decorated the toilets through the IW Creative Network.
Island GP, Dr David Isaac, said: “We wanted to do something different to get people talking. Your toilet can tell you more than you think – blood in your poo or changes in your bowel habits are things worth speaking to your GP about.
“We’re so grateful to the artists, landowners and everyone who helped us bring the launch to life. It’s a fun way of delivering a serious message.”
More information is available at yourloocouldsaveyou.co.uk.