FOOTBALL CLUBS HELP TO KICK OUT MALE CANCER AS "GROUND HOPPERS" REACH THE HALF WAY STAGE

Wednesday 19 April 2006

Testicular cancer survivor Simon Shakeshaft, along with ex professional footballer Tony Kelly, have reached the half way stage of their ‘Ground Hop’ challenge – where they plan to visit all Premiership, League and Conference football clubs in England to help raise awareness of male cancer.  Simon and Tony are supporting the ‘Keep Your Eye On The Ball’ campaign run by The Professional Footballers’ Association, The Football Association and The Everyman Campaign, which raises awareness of testicular and prostate cancer to the football community.

After starting at Shrewsbury Town (where Simon was once club physio) in early December, Simon and Tony have now visited 60 clubs to complete the first half of their challenge. The pair plan to visit the 60 remaining clubs over the rest of the season and the start of next season.  Visits to the Millennium Stadium, the new Wembley Stadium, Arsenal’s new home, the Emirates Stadium and Millwall’s New Den - the fictional home of Sky One’s Dream Team, Harchester United - will be taking place.

The main aim of the project is to raise awareness of male cancer to fans, players and staff through each club’s matchday programmes and on their web sites. So far with the inclusion in matchday programmes, the awareness message has been received by over 30,000 supporters and 600 players and coaching staff.

Simon has been a fundraiser for the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign, for which, even before this “Ground Hop” challenge, he had raised £41,000. Keep Your Eye On The Ball was set-up over four years ago, by The PFA, The FA and The Everyman Male Cancer Campaign, after several high profile players, including Jason Cundy, Alan Stubbs and Neil Harris, were diagnosed with testicular cancer. Its main objective is to raise awareness of male cancer within the football community.

“It was really appropriate to start our ground hop challenge at Shrewsbury Town, my last league club and one of Tony’s former clubs. We know to complete this challenge will be a very tough task but so far the clubs have been very supportive and we’d like to thank everyone who has helped us along the way.” commented Simon, “It’s important to raise awareness of male cancer, particularly testicular cancer, because if caught early enough it is 99% curable.  Through the vehicle of football, it’s an excellent way of making men and their partners aware of the symptoms, and therefore literally saving lives.”

In the time it takes to play one 90 minute game of football, more than one man in the UK will have died of prostate cancer.  That’s why Keep Your Eye On The Ball calls upon clubs and fans across the country to help raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of testicular and prostate cancer and also raise money to help fund vital research.

Thanks also go to XL Clothing of Liverpool, Misbourne Fine Art, Windsor Marine Sales and Neva Consultants for their sponsorship of Simons challenge.

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

  • Clubs that Simon and Tony have visited include:

Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesborough, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, West Ham United, Burnley, Derby County, Hull City, Wolves, Milwall, Crystal Palace, QPR, Sheffield United, Luton Town, Southampton, Plymouth Argyle, Stoke City, Norwich City, MK Dons, Swansea City, Scunthorpe United, Cheltenham Town, Wycombe Wanderers, Nottingham Forest, Colchester United, Walsall, Peterborough, Barnet, Rochdale, Hartlepool United, Southend United, Tranmere Rovers, Bristol Rovers, Chester City, Carlisle United, Bury, Darlington, Leyton Orient, Macclesfield Town, Northampton Town, Rushden & Diamonds, Burton Albion, Cambridge United, Canvey Island, Dagenham and Redbridge, Hereford United, Stevenage Borough, Tamworth, Woking,  Boston, Brighton, Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth.

  • Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 – 45, with over 2,000 new cases diagnosed a year
  • Men should check their testicles regularly and visit a GP if they notice any irregular changes to the weight, shape or size of their testicles or any lumps or swellings on their testicles
  • Prostate cancer kills one man an hour in the UK and is now the most common cancer in men
  • If men develop any problems or pain when urinating or notice any blood in their urine or semen they should visit their GP immediately.  These symptoms do not mean a man has prostate cancer and could be an indication of another less serious problem, but men should not delay in visiting their GP to get a correct diagnosis

For further information about male cancer and the campaign visit: www.keepyoureyeontheball.org/home.html or call 0800 731 9468

To speak to Simon about his ground hop challenge please call 07970 659819

To speak to someone from the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign please call Charlotte Muskett on 020 7153 5312 or email: charlotte.muskett@icr.ac.uk

Logos and links to the campaign organisers websites

Launch the PFA website Launch the FA website Launch the everyman website