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What is The Great Drag Race?
The Great Drag Race is a spectacular annual fundraising event that aims to radically increase the public's awareness of prostate cancer. Hundreds of men of all shapes and sizes descend on London, where they each walk or run for 10.2km wearing a wig and a frock in order to drag the issue into the spotlight. That's one long stride for each of the 10,200 men lost to the disease each year.
The next event will take place in Highbury Fields on June 30, 2012 from midday to 6pm. Race begins at 1:30pm.
So far, we've raised over £40,000 to fight prostate cancer and created something very special along the way. We also hold the Guinness World Record for the longest line of dancing drag queens!
See more official photos from last year's event on our Facebook group.
Why is this necessary?
Prostate cancer kills almost as many men as breast cancer kills women, and yet 70% of us don’t even know what the prostate is. That's a shocking statistic.
Men are dying unnecessarily because they are unaware of the symptoms of prostate cancer, and because they are not aware of the risk factors involved. Experts agree that this is partly due to a lack of funding and media attention, and partly because men are not very good at talking about such delicate matters.
What are we going to do about it?
In 2010, social entrepreneurs The X Foundation teamed up with Prostate Action to address this problem by launching Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, which takes place annually on the day before Father's Day. On June 30th, 2012, we will once again mark this special day with The Great Drag Race, and we intend to make an almighty song and dance about it.
The Great Drag Race provides a platform for men to show that they have issues, too, even if they have to dress up as women to talk about them! Through the media attention generated, we encourage men to carefully assess their risks of contracting prostate cancer, and we do our best to get everybody talking about the subject so that men feel more comfortable bringing it up with their friends, family or doctor. Prostate Action also uses some of the money raised to support the Prostate Cancer Support Federation, whose purpose is to address the needs of men who are living with the disease.
What's happening on June 30th, 2012?
The Great Drag Race will begin and end in Highbury Fields on June 30th, and the entry rules are simple. All participants are asked to raise some money for Prostate Action via an online sponsorship page, and they are required to wear flamboyant female clothing for the length of the route. It's that simple. Like last year, we hope to raise thousands of pounds for the cause, and to set another Guinness World Record along the way.
The Great Drag Race is open to men of all ages and abilities. The distance is 10.2km, but we want the support of everyone brave enough to take part, even if they can only manage the final ten yards. To help celebrate our achievements, there will be celebrities, guest performances, and an after-party for all our participants and their friends and families.
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in helping out or taking part in next
year's race, please send us an email or join our
mailing list.
Please join our mailing list or
The Great Drag Race Facebook group for updates
about the event.
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