ENGLAND GOALIE TELLS FANS TO 'CATCH IT EARLY'

Monday 18 February 2008

 

Goal-keeping hotshot, David James, is telling fans to ‘catch it early’ in a new tongue-in-cheek advert to raise awareness of testicular cancer for the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign. The advert will be screened to millions of fans at football stadiums around the UK throughout the campaign’s Focus Fortnight, taking place from 23 February – 8 March.

James is using his goal-keeping mantra of ‘catch it early’ to get a serious message across: if caught early testicular cancer is 99% curable. The film shows James taking this motto a step too far, even interrupting a youngster’s kick-around and chasing him through the park to get his hands on the ball.

Keep Your Eye On The Ball is run by the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign with The FA and The PFA, to raise awareness of testicular cancer in the football community. Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in 15-44 year olds.

The Portsmouth number one was happy trying out his acting skills to get the message across. He said: “As a goalie I know the importance of catching it early. The same rule applies with testicular cancer. I hope that all footie fans keep an eye out for the advert at the match and then go home and have a good check – it could save their lives.”

The advert is being shown at most premiership stadiums before matches and during half time throughout the concourse areas. A print version will also appear in match-day programmes.

Fellow England goal keeper, Paul Robinson, is joining his team mate to get behind the campaign. He said: "Several footballers, like Everton's Alan Stubbs, have been diagnosed with testicular cancer. I want to help spread the message that men should try to catch it early, because if they can, there is life after testicular cancer."

Testicular cancer affects almost 2,000 men every year in the UK. Everyman spokesperson, Hannah Crabtree said: “This disease mainly affects young men, a group who often ignore health issues. Hopefully, with world-class footballers like David James and Paul Robinson spreading the message, more men will check themselves and catch testicular cancer early.”

 

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For more information about Keep Your Eye On The Ball and the Everyman Campaign please contact:

Dominique Vincent
T: 020 7153 5312 or, out of hours, 07721 747900

E: dominique.vincent@icr.ac.uk

 

Notes to Editor:

  • Everyman is a campaign run by The Institute of Cancer Research, to raise awareness and fund research into testicular and prostate cancer at The Everyman Centre – Europe’s first and only centre dedicated to male cancer research.
  • The Institute of Cancer Research is Europe’s leading cancer research centre with expert scientists working on cutting edge research. It was founded in 1909 to carry out research into the causes of cancer and to develop new strategies for its prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Website at: www.icr.ac.uk
  • Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer to become the most common cancer in men affecting almost 35,000 men every year in the UK. One man dies of prostate cancer in the UK every hour.
  • Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men aged between 15 and 44, with about 2,000 cases a year in the UK. Incidence is increasing dramatically – by almost 4-fold in the last 50 years, but thanks to advances made at Everyman, testicular cancer is 99% curable if caught early, and with treatment the overall cure rate is 95%.

Logos and links to the campaign organisers websites

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