FOOTBALL FUNDRAISER TO TACKLE MALE CANCER

Tuesday 5 February 2008

Top London football clubs are urging footie fans to sign up to this year’s Keep Your Eye on the Ball 5km run, taking place at London’s Victoria Park on 1 June, to raise money for the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign.

Mascots from Arsenal, Charlton, Millwall and Leyton Orient football clubs came together to limber up and train for the event, run by Everyman, with The FA and The PFA. All money raised will go towards funding research into prostate and testicular cancer, which affects almost 37,000 men every year in the UK.

Exclusively for men, the run gives footie fans the opportunity to take part either individually or on behalf of their favourite football club. Similar to The FA Cup, potential ‘giant killing’ is on the cards as lower division teams will have the chance to beat Premiership clubs running times and to see who is the fastest over 5km.

“Football fans are always arguing amongst themselves about who’s the better team,” said Everyman’s patron Neil Harris, a Millwall Striker and testicular cancer survivor. “The 5km run gives fans the perfect opportunity to put their money where their mouth is and help support a vital and worthwhile cause in the process,” he added.

The fastest individuals and top fundraisers will each be honoured for their achievements and the winning club will be the one that finishes with the best average running time. With all to play for, its time to put the terrace talk to the test as Everyman looks to raise its target of £45,000.

As well as various professional players, such as Harris, taking part in the event, Premiership giants like Arsenal are also keen to get their supporters involved.

Arsenal and England physiotherapist Gary Lewin said: “The run’s a great chance for fans to show their support for a team, get active and help raise awareness for male cancer. It’s an event and a cause that all clubs should be involved with and we urge, not just Arsenal fans, but football fans nationwide to put their running shoes on and take part.”

Participants can start registering for a place from the beginning of April on the Everyman website www.everyman-campaign.org or alternatively phone 0800 731 9468

 

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For further information and / or photos of the mascots please call Jon Street at the Everyman Press Office:
Tel: 020 7153 5542 / 5430
Out of hours: 07788 427 856
Email: jonathan.street@icr.ac.uk


Notes to editors:

  • 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 45, 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