|
|
 |
|
 |
Press |
|
|
| Press Release - January 2003 |
|
|
|
| THE PEEBALL PHENOMENON |
| THE SEARCH FOR THE UK's FIRST PEEBALL CHAMPION BEGINS |
|
|
Since its launch at the beginning of November 2002 Peeball - the game that's changed the way men think
about going to the toilet - has been nothing short of a phenomenon. In two months the game has already
raised over £120,000 for The Prostate Cancer Charity. Not only has Peeball raised an enormous amount of
money for this vitally important yet often-overlooked cause, it has vastly increased awareness of prostate
cancer and its symptoms, and created an entirely new approach to charity fundraising.
|
|
The numbers alone are staggering. 450,000 Peeballs have already been sold into some of the UK's largest
retail and leisure companies including Virgin, Our Price, River Island, Ryman and Maplin in addition to
the major pub and bar chains of Six Continents (including O'Neills, Arena, Scream and Hollywood Bowl),
Fullers and Scottish & Newcastle. In total, over 3,500 sites across the UK now stock Peeball. Virgin
Megastores quotes Peeball as "a sales phenomenon" having sold an astonishing 10,000 balls in the first
two days that they were on sale, outselling the ever-popular Gareth Gates over the same time period.
The Peeball website has also exceeded its creators' ambitions; its mixture of satirical news stories,
game tips, health information, Peeball history and on-line gaming still receiving up to 5,000 unique
visitors every hour. The website, hand in hand with the enormous grass roots buzz, has generated massive
interest in this unique project from around the world and has led to alliances with prostate cancer
charities in the USA, Canada and Australia. Peeball will launch in the USA in June 2003.
Peeball is supported by a growing list of celebrity fans including Stephen Fry, Richard Branson, Chris
Tarrant and Countdown's very own Richard Whitely.
As soon as Peeball was launched the game's creators and administrators, the International Peeball
Federation (better known as the IPF), were inundated with reports of unofficial pub tournaments and
highly competitive inter-toilet tussles. It was clear from the start, people weren't just buying
the balls; they were playing the game.
|
|
With the game now being played in offices, bars and pubs across the country, the International Peeball
Federation has started looking for contestants for the first official UK Peeball Championships. The winner
will be crowned the UK 'Master Blaster' and will represent his country, as part of an all-expenses paid
holiday, at the World Peeball Finals, due to be held in Hong Kong in late 2003.
|
|
As part of this search for the Master Blaster, the IPF is combing the Gents' of the Nation in search of
gentlemen who can repeatedly destroy a Peeball in a single stand - not as easy as it might at first sound.
If you, anyone you know or any of your readers can achieve this great athletic feat, please contact the
IPF by email or by calling 0870 460 5038.
The UK Peeball Championships will take place in London in Summer 2003 (date to be confirmed in the near
future). The IPF will pay travel and hotel expenses for all competitors. Nationwide television is nearing
confirmation and the IPF is expecting extensive press coverage for the event.
|
|
The Master Blaster is out there. The opportunity to taste glory is here. Gentlemen, take your stands.
|
| ENDS |
| For further information please contact: |
Matthew or Elaine Sweetapple
International Peeball Federation
Tel: 0845 612 1117
|
|
|
| Notes to Editors |
|
Peeball aims to raise £1million for The Prostate Cancer Charity
The Prostate Cancer Charity would like to thank all those retailers who are supporting Peeball
and without whom this project would not have been possible.
|
| About Prostate Cancer |
|
Prostate Cancer is the UK's fastest growing cancer disease.
Currently over 21,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. It is
estimated that the number of cases will increase 47% by 2021.
This is a worrying increase and highlights the urgent need to make the public more aware
the symptoms of prostate cancer and for men to seek medical advice if they are at all
concerned about their health.
A British man has a 1 in 13 lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer. Those with a
family history of prostate cancer are particularly at risk. Warning signs for prostate
cancer are shared with a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and include:
- Difficulty or pain when passing urine.
- The need to pass urine more often.
- Broken sleep due to increased need to pass urine.
- Waiting for long periods before the urine flows.
- The feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully.
The Prostate Cancer Charity was founded in 1996 and prides itself on being the only organisation
within the United Kingdom to focus on both support and information for prostate cancer
patients and their families as well as carrying out scientific work into prostate cancer.
It provides patients with free information leaflets to guide them through the disease and
can put them in touch with others through our nationwide network of support contacts. The
Charity also runs a confidential Helpline service (0845 300 8383) for anybody concerned about
the disease.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
