Mascots of healthcare

Sure, McDonald's has Ronald McDonald and Geico has that gecko. But can they really compete with an enormous urine cup on legs called Petey? Or Mr. Testicles, a giant set of, well, testicles (or at least someone walking around in a plush costume approximating said body part)? A number of health organizations employ mascots to grab attention, educate and entertain. Petey P. Cup is the official “spokescup” for Minnesota's HealthPartners system. He has his own Facebook page and Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.

Pokey the Syringe, HealthPartners' official “spokesneedle,” is Petey P. Cup's “best friend.” HealthPartners also has Pearl E. White, a giant tooth with toothbrush and floss accessories. The system sells T-shirts, caps, bags and other merchandise featuring the trio.

UW Health in Madison, Wis., uses Dottie the Donor Dot, a mascot in a round, orange plush costume to promote the “Yes, I Will” campaign to encourage organ donation. Dottie was inspired by the orange dot that registered organ donors in the state place on their driver's licenses.

In Illinois, two organ donation organizations, Donate Life Illinois and the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, send a giant liver to community events. Morgan D'Organ wears a huge smiley face on his soft, pink outfit.

Across the pond in the U.K., the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign has a team of “champions” it uses to “raise awareness and reduce embarrassment” about the various cancers it targets with a strong dose of bawdy humor. James Bum 002, a parody of a certain famous fictional member of Her Majesty's Secret Service, is suave in a tuxedo, though one with the seat of the pants cut out, as the disease he targets is bowel cancer.

The U.K.'s Male Cancer Awareness Campaign is now raising money on Indiegogo to build a hot air balloon shaped like a giant pair of testicles called Skyballs, which the group says will be “world's biggest cancer awareness tool.” Since the online fundraiser started Aug. 25, donors have given more than £12,000 toward the £60,000 goal. The deadline is Oct. 14. Donors are being rewarded with a variety of perks, from their name on the plaque of the balloon's wicker basket for £10 to a ride in the balloon for a groom and his attendants to his wedding for £10,000.