Dissatisfaction with the antics of Cancer Research UK is becoming increasing widespread, a quick search on Google shows just how many people are concerned about their sex discrimination against men. Protest videos are even to be found on Youtube and it appears that all this pressure is finally starting to have an effect.
Firstly it has emerged that CRUK are now attempting to hide the inherently sexist nature of Race for Life. For example their recent press adverts now neglect to mention that men are barred from participating in the event. Luckily there are laws against misleading adverting such as this, and I can exclusively reveal that veteran men's rights campaigner John Taylor (with a little help from this blog) successfully forced the organisation to stop producing misleading adverts via the Adverting Standards Authority. If readers of the blog could keep an eye on future Race for Life publicity for any misleading information I'm sure John would appreciate it.
A second change in the strategy of Cancer Research UK seems to be their attempt to censor information about Race for Life sexism from the internet. The Wikipedia article on the subject previously gave an excellent and balanced summary of the issue and the history of Race for Life. However, recent unnamed edits removed information such as how the event was initially only concerned with female cancers and how CRUK responded to criticisms of sexism. It has now become apparent that these edits were made from CRUK's own offices and rather ironically, they even removed links to their own press release about how men have a "significantly greater" risk of cancer and higher mortality rates!
It's often claimed the organisation neglects men, but to go so far as deleting such mentions of men's suffering is almost beyond belief and such edits are a clear breach of Wikipedia rules on Conflicts of Interest. CRUK's misleading adverting could possibly have been considered to be an oversight, but the Wikipedia censorship places the issue in a whole new light.
We place a great deal of importance on fairness and honesty on this blog so it should be noted that CRUK is far from the only UK cancer or health organisation giving vastly disproportionate attention to women. The Macmillian cancer charity has been equally guilty in neglecting prostate cancer though I'm not aware of any obvious or systematic discrimination in terms of banning men from most fund-raising activities.
As a charity relying on people's generous donations and goodwill, CRUK has a duty to be open and honest about what it does. These donations fund the misleading adverts and the salaries of the CRUK employee's censoring Wikipedia. Surely it would be much cheaper and easier (not to mention fairer) to have fund-raising events open to everyone instead of banning every single male in the country from most event? There would certainly be less of a need for a cover up. Either way, it's becoming apparent that pressure on the charity is barring fruit and one has to wonder for how much longer their position can remain tenable.by John Kimble
Great Youtube Video !! I didn't know that Race for Life was a CRUK event. I thought it was its own 'little' entity. Indeed their position and behaviour is outrageous. They masquerade as a UK Wide Cancer Charity for ALL, but in reality they have become an instrument of feminist oppression. I understand previous posts regarding this much better now.
Their attempts to change the information available online is even more telling. Seems like they've truely revealed themselves with that one.
Posted by: Bob | Tuesday, 27 July 2010 at 15:15
Just want to say thank you for posting my video, as I made it specifically to raise awareness of the clear-cut discrimination, so thanks for posting it here.
Cancer does not discriminate, so cancer charities shouldn't discriminate, simple as that really, you'd think.
Posted by: Guntotin6angster | Tuesday, 27 July 2010 at 16:10
A member of my staff and another were planning to take part in the Race for Life. They're both very sporty and are always competing with each other. They would have raised quite a bit. I was in for £100 if he beat her but, there, you'll notice the problem He wasn't allowed to take part because it's a "women only" thing. As a result, neither took part. As they said, if they don't want our money, we shouldn't try to force it on them.
Posted by: Jenny | Tuesday, 27 July 2010 at 17:43
I would like to stress:
1) This is subject of a Stage 3 Complaint to The Fund Raising Standards Board - I anticipate their verdict in about 45 days time;
2) CRUK are not satisified with the discrimination of the 5K Race for Life - they have now introduced 10K events;
http://www.raceforlife.org/about-us/latest-news/race-for-life-10k.aspx
http://www.raceforlife.org/choose-your-event/events-search-results.aspx?postcode=YO17%208BA
So, the discrimination increases!!!
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Posted by: Ugg Classic Mini | Monday, 16 August 2010 at 02:17
Hi,
I've received a donation request from CRUK in today's post.
My response: I have instead made an online donation of £50 to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, and am now writing to CRUK to inform them that I will continue to make donations only to such alternative research organisations until they open RFL to male participants.
Cancer is something we should all be getting together to combat, and RFL goes utterly against this, instead sending out a dangerous and divisive message.
This way, the good cause does not lose out, only CRUK's salaried middlepersons!
More info about alternative research organisations here:
http://www.icr.ac.uk/about_us/partnerships/3971.pdf
Cheers.
Posted by: ProleScum | Tuesday, 15 February 2011 at 20:35
Wow thanks for the very informative article about this. I hope that groups like this don't deter people about cancer research as there are really thousands of people who are in need of help from legitimate, well-meaning cancer related foundations.
Posted by: Prostate Cancer | Thursday, 28 April 2011 at 03:30