Pall Mall’s Dirty Protest hits Liverpool to raise awareness about bowel cancer

Liverpool city centre is about to witness a sight like no other, people dressed as poo emojis and loo rolls taking to the streets for a great cause!

On 2nd April, Pall Mall’s third annual ‘Dirty Protest’ – aptly named ‘The Turd’ – will bring an unmissable spectacle to Merseyside, all in the name of bowel cancer awareness.

As part of Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, the event aims to break taboos around bowel health and encourage open conversations about symptoms, screenings, and early detection. Bowel cancer remains the UK’s second-biggest cancer killer after lung cancer, and awareness is key to saving lives.

The protest will kick off outside John Lewis in Liverpool ONE before making its way through the city streets, ensuring that the message is loud and clear: ‘Poo is not taboo!’ And leading the march is none other than Dr Chun Tang, Medical Director and private GP at Pall Mall, who has a deeply personal connection to the cause.

“My father passed away from bowel cancer 16 years ago due to being diagnosed at stage four. My brother’s early diagnosis, at stage one, meant he could make a full recovery,” says Dr Tang. “That’s why I’m so passionate about raising awareness and introducing the ColoAlert® bowel cancer test to the UK. This year, we’re going bigger and bolder to get the message across.”

Dr Tang also highlights the key symptoms to watch out for. 

 “Persistent changes in bowel habits, blood in your stool, unexplained weight loss, and ongoing abdominal pain or bloating can all be warning signs. If you notice any of these, don’t ignore them, speak to your doctor.” 

The marchers won’t just be raising awareness, they’ll also be bringing entertainment, performing cheeky renditions of famous songs originating from Liverpool. With fun, music, and eye-catching costumes, this year’s Dirty Protest promises to be a spectacle. 

The statistics are sobering,120 people in the UK are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day, and 46 lives are lost. Yet a recent survey by Pall Mall revealed that 53% of Brits had not attended a bowel cancer screening when invited, and 27% admitted they were too embarrassed to discuss bowel health with their doctor.

Early detection can save lives, and the protest aims to remind everyone that poo is definitely not taboo.

So, if you see a group of dancing poo emojis making their way through Liverpool this April, don’t look away – join the movement, snap a pic, and most importantly, check in on your own bowel health. Because when it comes to saving lives, there’s no such thing as a dirty conversation.

The good news is Pall Mall has seen demand for ColoAlert testing surge significantly since the launch of their ‘Dirty Protests’, with booked appointments increasing by 225% year on year.

Pall Mall Medical will be offering offering £100 off a ColoAlert® Bowel Cancer stool test throughout April, for more information visit the website HERE.

Want to join the action? The Poo Protest will be starting at 3pm outside John Lewis, Liverpool ONE – don’t miss it!

Get the latest for Liverpool HERE.