BBC Homepage
  • Skip to content
  • Accessibility Help
  • Your account
  • Notifications
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • More menu
More menu
Search BBC
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
Close menu
BBC News
Menu
  • Home
  • InDepth
  • Israel-Gaza war
  • War in Ukraine
  • Climate
  • UK
  • World
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Culture
More
  • Tech
  • Science
  • Health
  • Family & Education
  • In Pictures
  • Newsbeat
  • BBC Verify
  • Disability
  • BBC Trending

A fitness campaign for testicular cancer, and #BlackMonday in South Africa

  • Published
    3 April 2017
Share page
About sharing
Screen grab from Go Balls Out websiteImage source, goballsout.org.nz
Image caption,

Testicular Cancer New Zealand is calling on Kiwis to "Go Balls Out"

By Lamia Estatie
BBC News

People are drawing outlines of penises and testicles using their fitness trackers to raise awareness for testicular cancer. Criticism has been levelled at a campaign protesting President Jacob Zuma's latest cabinet reshuffle, and parents share images online of their children and dolls of a different colour.

New Zealand's cancer awareness campaign

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and an awareness campaign in New Zealand is encouraging Kiwis to "Go Balls Out, external".

The online campaign, #GoBallsOut, calls on people to go out for a special kind of run - one that would outline the shape of a penis and testicles on their fitness trackers.

What do you do once the run is complete? Upload a screengrab of the map to social media and challenge others to take it on.

The Go Balls Out website reads: "Testicular cancer is the most common cancer affecting men between the ages of 15-39. Sadly, awareness of this cancer, how to check for symptoms and how to reduce the risk is shockingly low.

"It's proven that regular exercise prevents a number of cancers, so get out in the park, on the streets or wherever you want..."

Screen grab from Go Balls Out websiteImage source, goballsout.org.nz
Image caption,

The campaign website compiled some of the images posted on social media

"Wide open places like parks or sports fields are perfect" the campaign website suggested.

But if you're still don't know how to work out your own route, the website has examples of phallic routes around New Zealand, posted on its website.

While most of those who took part in the campaign stuck to traditional runs - albeit with a very untraditional route - some outlined the male anatomy in other ways.

One Facebook user chose to fly over Auckland in a penis-shaped flight path.

Screen grab of Facebook post by Vaughn DavisImage source, Facebook/Vaughn Davis
Image caption,

One man chose to "go balls out" for cancer awareness by taking to the skies

And a Londoner living in New Zealand shared, external an image showing the route she mapped out using a kayak, and nominated two others to undertake the challenge.

Screen grab of Instagram post by pro-poppyImage source, Instagram/pro.poppy
Image caption,

People took to land, air and even water to partake in the campaign

While another Kiwi said, external he mowed the shape onto his brother's lawn.

Screen grab from Facebook page of Kurt GifkinsImage source, Facebook/Kurt Gifkins
Image caption,

One Kiwi who was "not one for exercise" mowed the outline of a penis onto his brother's lawn instead

You can read about testicular cancer and how to identify common symptoms here, external.

And Testicular Cancer NZ has a video on how men can examine themselves, external.

line

#BlackMonday

Screen grab of tweet by @Nisha360Image source, Twitter
Image caption,

#BlackMonday is against the South African president's cabinet reshuffle

A campaign protesting against South African President Jacob Zuma's latest cabinet reshuffle is calling on people to wear black and use the hashtag #BlackMonday on social media. However, it has been criticised by some as having a "racist agenda".

Last week, President Zuma sacked finance minister Pravin Gordhan, prompting street protests and an outcry among some of his senior party leaders.

Under the slogan "Our Souls Are Not for Sale", the Black Monday campaign is calling, external on South Africans to unite behind constitutional values and hold the government to account.

"As a sign of our discontentment, we invite all disapproving South Africans to stand together behind the #BlackMonday movement. This coming Monday (3rd April 2017) we will all wear black in solidarity and use the tag to further the cause.

"We can no longer be passive. Let us start the change we wish to see in our beloved country, and save the legacy that Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada and liberation leaders fought for."

Screen grab of tweet by @NatalieCapeTownImage source, Twitter/@NatalieCapeTown

Climate activist and Miss Earth South Africa Director Catherine Constantinides tweeted, external that although not everyone could attend public protests, wearing black would "speak volumes".

At a protest on Monday, Congress of the People President Mosiuoa Lekota said, external that the president is "today leading in undermining the constitution".

And a CEO in Cape Town added, external: "I support #BlackMonday - As a gesture of solidarity with all South Africans who believe in the great potential of our country!"

But critics of the protest movement said, external it was absent "for the issues that disproportionately affect poor black people".

Screen grab of tweet by @TebogoDitshegoImage source, Twitter/@TebogoDitshego

Some of them who claimed the movement was focused on the interests of white people used the hashtag #WhiteMonday instead.

One South African Facebook user, now living in Thailand, said, external there was a "racist agenda behind this protest" because it excluded numerous other issues from its movement.

"Funny how apartheid beneficiaries are now suddenly the moral compass of South Africa," a Kimberly-based law student tweeted, external.

"Remember the time we wore black for racial injustices, unemployment, poverty or when banks colluded our currency? No? Me neither," another highlighted, external.

line

Kids and dolls

Screen grab from Brandi Benner Facebook pageImage source, Facebook/Brandi Benner
Image caption,

Sophia and her doll Meagann Cece

Parents are sharing images online of their children with dolls of a different race. This comes after South Carolina based mother Brandi Benner posted an image of her two-year old daughter Sophia and her doll Meagann Cece.

Brandi said, external on Facebook that after Sophia had picked out her doll at the store, the cashier - an elderly woman - questioned her daughter's choice: "Are you sure you want this doll honey? She doesn't look like you. We have lots of other dolls that look more like you."

Sophia responded that she and the doll were very much alike: "She's a doctor like I'm a doctor. And I'm a pretty girl and she's a pretty girl. See her pretty hair? And see her stethoscope?"

Brandi, a stay-at-home mum, told the BBC that this was a "proud mum moment".

She added that the reaction has been mostly "love and encouragement - a feeling of community and togetherness".

Brandi also said that she did not want people to go on a "witch hunt" for the elderly cashier woman whose generation was "unfortunately the epitome of white privilege".

And upon hearing the story of Sophia and her doll, other parents also shared, external images of their children and dolls.

Screen grab of Facebook post by Kelly Boyd JonesImage source, Facebook/Kelly Boyd Jones

Commenting on the reaction to her five-year-old daughter's choice, one mother said: "I've had a family member make a sarcastic remark, asking why she has a black doll. My response? Because it's the one she picked out.

"She doesn't care that the doll doesn't look like her...heck, looking the same is boring! I'm definitely glad that my children are seeing that we embrace differences."

Another posted, external an image of her daughter with her doll Rose: "She takes her everywhere with her and has actually had people make it a point to mention to her that her baby was different colour and she always says: 'Yes I have pretty vanilla skin and she has pretty chocolate skin and that's why she's my beautiful chocolate Rose'."

A mother living in Nebraska also shared, external an image of her son who has two baby dolls of a different race: "They are the dolls he loves and he doesn't see colour... Kids don't see an issue with skin colour unless we tell them there is one. Kids are born neutral. "

By the UGC and Social News team

Top stories

  • Live. 

    US justice department asks court to release certain Epstein files as Trump sues Murdoch

    • 11520 viewing12k viewing
  • Boy, 10, dead as nine in hospital after coach crash

    • Published
      4 hours ago
  • Amber warning as thunderstorms set to bring flash floods

    • Published
      3 hours ago

More to explore

  • 'There were bodies everywhere': Druze residents describe 'bloodbath' in Syrian city Suweida

    A health worker and other men walk in a hospital courtyard, past the bodies of victims of the recent clashes in Syria's southern city of Suweida on 17 July 2025
  • Why 2025 is a scarily good year for horror movies

    A still from I Know What You Did Last Summer shows actress Madelyn Cline with her hands clasped to her face, mid-scream. She's inside a house at night with large bay windows behind her.
  • How history-chasing Italy can threaten England at Euro 2025

    • Attribution
      Sport
    Italy celebrate after reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2025 with victory over Norway
  • Kill Russian soldiers, win points: Is Ukraine's new drone scheme gamifying war?

    A Ukrainian soldier wears a headset to pilot a drone
  • Israel levelling thousands of Gaza civilian buildings in controlled demolitions

    A promotional image for a BBC Verify story with branding. A soldier with his head turned away from the camera can be seen in the middle. On either side of him are images of destroyed buildings.
  • Relentless immigration raids are changing California's way of life

    Two protesters in dust masks film federal troops in gas masks in a field of crops in Southern California. One protester flies a Mexican flag
  • Weekly quiz: Why is Kew Garden's Palm House closing?

    Interior view of the Palm House at Kew.
  • How bad is Afghan data breach for MI6 and SAS?

    Two poppy wreaths lie in front of a stone memorial that has Afghanistan written on it.
  • Summer Essential: Your family’s guide to the summer, delivered to your inbox every Tuesday

    concentric circles ranging from orange to yellow to represent the sun, with a blue sky background
loading elsewhere stories

Most read

  1. 1

    Amber warning as thunderstorms set to bring flash floods

  2. 2

    Airport accused 'didn't know' he hit female PCs

  3. 3

    Boy, 10, dead as nine in hospital after coach crash

  4. 4

    Dog who helped police Queen's funeral dies after car crash

  5. 5

    More than 30 poisoned after suspected fake Botox

  6. 6

    Three killed in explosion at Los Angeles police training facility

  7. 7

    Man dies after car crashes onto railway tracks

  8. 8

    UK's asylum hotel bill down 30%, government says

  9. 9

    Royal swan count sees numbers resurface after dip

  10. 10

    Mum jailed for using children to smuggle cocaine

BBC News Services

  • On your mobile
  • On smart speakers
  • Get news alerts
  • Contact BBC News

Best of the BBC

  • Martin Scarsden faces a new mystery

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Scrublands S2
  • Sinister events in an old Spanish town

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    Uncanny: Summer Specials
  • Ghosts US returns for series 4

    • Attribution
      iPlayer
    Ghosts US S4
  • What does it take to build the perfect athlete?

    • Attribution
      Sounds
    The Infinite Monkey Cage
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • iPlayer
  • Sounds
  • Bitesize
  • CBBC
  • CBeebies
  • Food
  • Terms of Use
  • About the BBC
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies
  • Accessibility Help
  • Parental Guidance
  • Contact the BBC
  • Make an editorial complaint
  • BBC emails for you

Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.