'Colossal colon' experience for Papamoa shoppers

Ian Yun, 5, and Jun Yun, 10, took a walk through the giant colon at Papamoa Plaza with Waikato University communications student Zoe Bicker. Photo/Andrew Warner

A walk-through six-metre 'colossal colon' gave Papamoa shoppers more than what they bargained for.

Shoppers had the opportunity step inside a giant human bowel, a pop-up feature that was held in Papamoa Plaza today which aimed to raise awareness about bowel cancer.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society partnered with Waikato University communication students to form The Colon Cancer Crusade in conjunction with both Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Men's Health Week.

Zoe Bicker is one of six Waikato University communications students who took interested passer-bys through the colossal colon and said the public's response was great.

"We've been getting a lot of older people stop and check it out so we've been hitting our target audience," said Miss Bicker.

Bowel cancer is more commonly found in males in their 50's, Miss Bicker said.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society health promotion manager Melanie Desmarais said this was a great chance to look at men's health, in particular bowel health.

"Such a broad range of people visit the Papamoa Plaza, making it is an excellent place to talk about men and how they can better look after their health.

"This will be the colon's first outing in a shopping mall and we are expecting a high degree of interest in this fascinating display." she said.