Leading British Artists Unite Against Prostate Cancer

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Article Date: 12 Sep 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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More than 40 of Britain's leading male artists have united in the fight against prostate cancer, donating their works for the Everyman Men Only exhibition to be held at Liberty in London from 8 to 11 September.

Artists Damien Hirst, Sir Peter Blake, Rankin, Patrick Hughes and Martin Parr are among those who have donated works to be auctioned in memory of sculptor Allister Bowtell who died of prostate cancer in 2006, aged 66.

All funds raised during an action, led by Nick Bonham will go towards world leading prostate cancer research at The Institute of Cancer Research's Everyman Centre.

Renowned sculptor, film designer and model maker, Allister Bowtell, was one of the 35,000 British men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, but sadly lost his battle.

"Allister and I were completely unaware of the plague amongst men until he was diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer," Pat Scovell-Bowtell, Allister's wife said.

"My only hope is that better diagnostic tests can be developed along with better treatments for those with the aggressive type of the disease."

"After diagnosis, Allister hoped to finish his sculptures that he was working on. Sadly that dream died with him.

"Through Men Only, Allister's art is being kept alive and hopefully through money raise others will not have to endure Allister's fate."

Head of the Everyman Centre Professor Colin Cooper welcomed the support of Britain's leading artists.

"The generosity of these artists is impressive," he said. "The funds raised through the auctioning of their artwork will go towards helping fund research into developing better treatments for men with prostate cancer."

To find out more, visit http://www.menonlyart.co.uk

Notes

- Allister Bowtell was a sculptor, film designer and model maker. His pieces included the bronze sculpture of two children playing, commissioned for the Sloane Square refurbishment in London. He made models for Dr Who, Monty Python and The Goodies.

- Men Only has been organised by Everyman in conjunction with Bowtell's wife Pat Scovell-Bowtell.

- Everyman is a campaign run by The Institute of Cancer Research, to raise awareness and fund research into prostate and testicular cancer at The Everyman Centre - Europe's first and only centre dedicated to male cancer research.

- The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe's leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

- Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men affecting almost 35,000 men every year in the UK. About 10,000 men die each year of the disease in the UK - equating to one man every hour.

The Institute of Cancer Research