Could celebrities save our lives?
We all know that celebrities are role models.
Whether good or bad, their behaviour influences huge numbers – from haircuts and clothes to whether we smoke or drink.
From a communications perspective, we all know that celebrity endorsement can work wonders when seeking to raise the profile of an organisation, a product or an issue.
Recently, Jade Goody used her celebrity selflessly and bravely, sharing her last days with the world to raise the profile of cervical cancer.
As a direct result, The Guardian has reported that cervical cancer screening rates have increased and coverage for Marie Curie Cancer Care http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/ has never been so high.
For those raising awareness of public health issues, Jade’s contribution has been significant. If only there were more like her.
Jade is not the first to use her influence to benefit society – but she has granted greater access than most to get her point across.
Whether it be Lady Di and Aids, Bono and third world debt or George Clooney and the environment, many celebrities are working hard to make the world a better place. But they would appear to be the exception, rather than the rule.
Perhaps if greater numbers used their position to raise awareness of important issues, more lives would be saved.