Takeoff on Movember: Julyna fundraiser raises awareness of cervical cancer, HPV

TORONTO - As a group of young Toronto women watched the progress of their male friends growing facial hair for Movember, they idly discussed over a few drinks how they could do a similar event.
Movember is a movement which has inspired men in many countries to sprout moustaches during November to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.
"It started out with us trying to think what kind of charity we would want to raise money for and we came up with cervical cancer because a lot of us had either gone through an irregular Pap smear or had heard stories of our close friends having struggled through the experience of having cervical cell dysplasia," Vanessa Willson, a spokeswoman for the fundraising effort, said in an interview.
The result of their brainstorming over several months is Julyna, which kicks off July 1. But unlike the men's event, the hair involved is not visible — participating women can choose a design for their hair "down there" and ask for donations.
"One of our goals is to create a media buzz, is to create awareness surrounding cervical cancer so people are talking about it, get a dialogue going. So it is sort of a racy idea, but I think that's the whole point," said Willson, 29, a cardiology nurse at St. Michael's Hospital.
She contacted the Canadian Cancer Society — "we didn't want to be offensive and didn't know what the reaction would be." But she said the society supported them, and planning began at the end of March for the month-long fundraiser which culminates in a Garden of Eden gala July 28. The venue, DJ, food and beverages have all been donated for the gala.
The Julyna (pronounced JULY-na) website has sample design ideas and suggestions on how to execute shapes with the least amount of discomfort.
Willson said she has signed up, as have several others from the 14-member committee.
"I'm thinking of a capital J for Julyna, but I haven't really decided," she said. "I have a couple of other ideas up my sleeve and I think that come July 1 is when I'll make my decision.
"One team member said she wanted to do the card shark which is a diamond and a heart to the upper left." Other ideas include a lightning bolt or polka dots.
"It's not visual, but we did brainstorm a whole lot of ideas on ways to make it recognizable that you're participating, like having a pin or certain T-shirts made with graphic images of shapes on them or having jewelry like a little bracelet so that anyone who is participating knows it's you that's doing it too. Not so in your face because obviously it can be a bit embarrassing."
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 1,300 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in Canada in 2011 and that 350 deaths from cervical cancer will occur. The lifetime probability of a woman dying from cervical cancer in Canada is one in 445, the society says on its website.
Cervical cancer starts in the cells of the cervix, the narrow, lower part of the uterus. It is the passageway that connects the uterus to the vagina.
Before cervical cancer develops, the cells of the cervix start to change and become abnormal, which is known as dysplasia and is a change that can be detected during routine Pap tests. It is a common precancerous change that can develop into cancer if not treated. Most women with dysplasia do not develop cancer, the society says.
The most important risk factor for developing cervical cancer is infection of the cervix with human papillomavirus, HPV.
"Once you find out something's brewing it's good to go and get it checked out," Willson said.