Australia’s leading female music artists come together for #itouchmyselfproject for breast cancer awareness via JWT and Soap Creative

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I-TOUCH-MYSELF-2.jpgShe sang it. She shouted it. And we couldn’t help but listen. Now Chrissy wants us to hear her words again. For breast cancer awareness. Chrissy gave us this song. This is her divine wish. Touch yourself.

I-TOUCH-MYSELF-3.jpgFamily and friends have recorded the song as a tribute to the iconic Australian vocalist who passed away from breast cancer almost a year ago.

Some of Australia’s leading female music artists – including Olivia Newton-John, Kate Ceberano, Deborah Conway, Little Pattie and Suze Demarchi – came together to reincanate Chrissie Amphlett’s anthem, which was directed by Daniel Askill, Lorin Askill and Joel Pront via Collider.

The #itouchmyselfproject campaign was commissioned by Cancer Council NSW and created by JWT Sydney together with digital agency Soap Creative and PR agency Hill & Knowlton. The Project will be officially launched on Wednesday alongside a photographic exhibition at the Blender Gallery in Sydney.

Says Simon Langley, executive creative director, JWT Sydney: “Transforming perception and changing behaviour is what JWT is all about. It’s a shocking fact that so many Australian women develop breast cancer, so as a tribute to Chrissy we approached her husband and fellow band member, Charley Drayton, with the idea of turning her song ‘I Touch Myself’ into a breast cancer anthem to help continue to raise awareness of this disease.

“When Chrissy sang ‘I Touch Myself’, you couldn’t help but listen. Now the I Touch Myself Project makes sure her voice is heard loud and clear for a different reason, for breast cancer prevention.”

Marking the first anniversary of Chrissy’s passing on 21st April 2014, the Inaugural “I Touch Myself Day” asks women to ‘touch themselves’, reminding them to get to know the look and feel of their breasts. The project invites the general public to share how they’ve been touched and pass on their message.

Says Langley: “Women can show how they’ve been touched by using the hashtags and posting a message or selfie about their own breast cancer experience or leave a message of support for someone they know who has been touched by breast cancer.

“We hope the campaign will become a media and social media phenomena creating a movement that comes together on the 21st of April every year to raise awareness of breast cancer. We’re incredibly proud as an agency to bring such an important issue as breast cancer awareness to the forefront and we are honoured to work with so many wonderful singers and in particular Chrissy’s family and friends to continue her legacy.”

Says Kathy Chapman, director of Cancer Programs at Cancer Council NSW: “We know that by the age of 85, one in eight Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, detecting breast cancer early is the most important factor in beating this disease. Through this campaign we are encouraging women to get to know their breasts better, to know what is normal for them and to participate in breast screening if they’re in the right age range. At different ages there are various steps women can take to help detect breast cancer early, however at any age if women have any concerns they should contact their doctor.”

Agency: JWT Sydney

ECD: Simon Langley & Mark Harricks

General Manger: Jenny Willits

Agency Producer: Vicky Ryan

Senior Art Director: Alexandra Antoniou

Senior Writers: Sylvianne Heim; Sinead Roarty

Account Management: Paul Everson; Caroline Ludwell; Monica Tobin; Ali Clemesha

TV Production: Tommie McSweeney

Executive Planning Director: Angela Morris

Digital Strategy: Trevor Crossman

Production Company: Collider

Directors: Daniel Askill, Lorin Askill & Joel Pront

Executive Producer: Rachael Ford-Davies

Producers: Charity Downing; Olivia Hantken

DoP: Russel Boyd

Music Producer: Clive Young

SOAP Creative

Creative Partner: Brad Eldridge

Executive Creative Director – Digital: Ashadi Hopper Technology Director: Mark Fennel

Senior Digital Producer: Charlotte Ludlow