Peeball was created in 2001 to support the charity now known as Prostate Cancer UK and to find a different way of getting men talking about prostate cancer.
At the time, conversations about men's health were far less common than they are today. Peeball used sport and humour to break down some of those barriers. Instead of beginning with a medical leaflet or a difficult conversation, it began with a game.
And people played.
Peeball events were staged across the UK and later in South Africa, Canada and Australia. Over the years, events associated with Peeball have raised more than £1 million for prostate cancer charities.
Why prostate cancer awareness matters
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. In the UK, around 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
Risk increases with age, particularly after 50. Black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer also have a higher risk.
One of the challenges is that prostate cancer does not always cause symptoms in its early stages. This makes awareness of personal risk and knowing when to speak to a GP particularly important.
There is currently no national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK. Men who are concerned about their risk can talk to their GP about the PSA blood test, including its potential benefits and limitations.
Starting conversations
That is where Peeball has always had a role.
It was never intended to provide medical advice or replace a conversation with a healthcare professional. Its purpose was much simpler. Get people talking.
A funny sporting event can attract people who might walk straight past a conventional health campaign. Once the conversation has started, there is an opportunity to talk about prostate cancer, risk factors and the importance of taking concerns seriously.
This is one reason Peeball has also been used by occupational health teams as an unusual and engaging way to introduce conversations about prostate cancer awareness and men's health in the workplace.
Looking Ahead
Twenty-five years after Peeball began, awareness of prostate cancer has changed enormously. But there is still more to do.
We hope to relaunch Peeball with an exciting new Superpower Edition, bringing the game to a new generation while keeping the purpose that was there from the beginning.
Peeball may be ridiculous. The cause behind it certainly isn't.
If you'd like to know more about the history of Peeball, using the game within your organisation or our plans for its return, please get in touch.