MP Jonathan Young, New Zealand White Ferns team member Kate Broadmore, New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd, and musician Morgana James get ready for the Cancer Society's Junk Free June.

People are challenged to go junk-free in June.

New Zealand Cancer Society is running the fundraiser, where participants seek sponsorship to give up something that's not good for them for a month, and several high-profile New Plymouth people have jumped on board.

New Plymouth's mayor Andrew Judd, Member of Parliament Jonathan Young, New Zealand White Ferns team member Kate Broadmore, and musician Morgana James have already pledged their support.

READ MORE: Cancer Society unveils Junk Free June

Young plans to give up sugar. "Not just sugar as in teaspoons into coffee or cereals, but also products that have lots of sugar. So I'm going to pull back on processed foods and just eat natural."

James wants to give up stress. "I would like to strategise with my family, because we're doing it all together," she said.

Judd said he was going to give up biscuits, particularly sultana pasties. "If you put sultana pasties in front of me there'd be struggling to be one left in the packet after a night," he laughs.

He wanted to get involved in the fundraiser because, as well as supporting the Cancer Society, participants become more healthy too.

Broadmore, a cricketer, said now was a good time to get involved because training had just started. She plans to cut down on artificial sugar. "It's quite a good eye-opener when you start looking at what's in what."

Taranaki Cancer Society centre manager Meg Rodel said Junk Free June was a national initiative started last year, but this was the first time it has run in Taranaki.

"A third of cancer deaths are actually preventable, predominantly through healthy eating and obviously early detection," Taranaki Centre manager Meg Rodel said.

Bowel and breast cancers particularly fall into this category.

People don't necessarily have to give up food or drink, it could be too much TV or a technology addiction. "The idea is that people go out and get people to support them in their endeavour and fundraise."

Rodel had some last words; "What's a month? I'd like to think that if they gave something up that after a month they wouldn't miss it and they'd give it up permanently."

Visit junkfreejune.org.nz to find out more or sign up.