Background:
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer amongst men.
One of the symptoms is the increasing difficulty to urinate. However, when detected and treated in the early stages of disease, prostate cancer has a cure rate of over 90%

Challenge:
The Belgian Association of Urologists asked us to raise awareness about prostate diseases by convincing men to visit their urologist for a screening. But how can you reach all Belgian men without a media budget?

Solution:
We took Belgium’s most famous landmark: Manneken Pis, a small bronze fountain depicting a naked little boy urinating. Simply by lowering the water pressure we turned Manneken Pis into Manneken Drip. To the spectacle, we added a sign reading ‘Having trouble urinating? Have a prostate check today.’

Results and Effectiveness:
The reactions were overwhelming. The dripping statue was an item in every possible newspaper and an issue on more than 15,000 websites. Our action got coverage on national radio and tv news. Urologists were interviewed to explain the problem on television and EU Health Commissioner Markus Kyprianou spontaneously supported our action. But more important: the awareness campaign didn’t miss its goal. Our message reached an estimated 85% of the Belgians.

September 14th – European Prostate Awareness Day.
Having trouble urinating? Have a prostate check today.

Agency: Famous
Creative Directors: Christophe Ghewy, Tim Driesen, Joeri Van Den Broeck
Copywriter: Iwein Vandevyver
Art Director: Tom Jacobs

Brand name: European Prostate Awareness Day
Generic name/category: Disease awareness
Company: Belgian Association of Urologists
Country/Market: Belgium, Europe
Indication(s)/use: Prostate diseases
Target: Consumers (DTC)
Publication: 2009