Fans from across the EFL have raised more than £11,000 in a bid to relegate prostate cancer, a disease that kills one man every 45 minutes.
The first wave of activity this season saw 11 clubs host a matchday collection as part of a continued programme of events with the Official Charity Partner of the EFL, Prostate Cancer UK.
A special mention goes to Millwall, Luton Town and Fulham who all held collections in their hospitality suites as well as outside the ground.
Luton Town, along with Wigan Athletic, went the extra mile again, extending their fundraising to the local pubs which were converted into ‘Men United Arms’ – where the bars were decorated with bunting and beer mats, and customers were encouraged to round their pints up to the nearest pound.
League Two newcomers, Forest Green Rovers, held their first collection as an EFL club and raked in £680 from 2,864 fans.
Other clubs who added to the impressive pot were Barnsley, Bradford City – whose collection was led by Adam Tasker for a fourth straight year – Bury, Coventry City, Northampton Town and Wycombe Wanderers.
Together supporters of these clubs – and their opponents – have raised vital funds which will go towards improving diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support to ultimately help stop prostate cancer being a killer.
James Beeby, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The power of football consistently helps us reach out to men and their friends and families, and we are very grateful for the continued backing from clubs across the EFL and beyond.
“One man dies every 45 minutes from this disease. That’s two men during a football match, so we’re grateful once again that EFL fans have joined the fight against prostate cancer to raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
“The money raised by clubs and their fantastic fans will fund ground-breaking research to help fight the disease. That will help us provide dedicated support and information to men and their families affected by this disease. We thank everyone involved for helping us relegate prostate cancer.”
This support from clubs and their fans is set to continue into 2018 as a new line-up of Prostate Cancer UK match day fixtures will soon be unveiled at clubs up and down the country.
Details will soon be available about the 2018 games, where you can find the nearest match to volunteer and get a free ticket to the game.
MEN UNITED MATCHDAYS: Register your interest here
Many people are unaware that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It’s a huge issue that cannot be ignored. One man will die from prostate cancer every 45 minutes in the UK. That’s over 11,000 men a year. Based on current trends, if we ignore prostate cancer and do nothing, this number will rise to over 14,500 men a year by 2026.
Additionally, to show your support and get Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Man of Men’ badge to wear with pride, text BADGE to 70004 to donate £5* and help stop prostate cancer being a killer.
You can find out more about the charity’s work in football by clicking here.
*Text costs £5 plus network charge. Prostate Cancer UK receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payers permission. Customer care 0800 082 1616. Charity No 1005541.