As wonderfully expressed by Macmillan, life with cancer is still life, and this year, the EFL’s Football Club charities are rallying together to support those preparing for treatment, improving health and mental well-being through the real-life benefits of exercise and physical activity.

Launched in January, Club charities across Lancashire and South Cumbria have partnered with the region’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) Cancer Alliance to provide free ‘prehab’ sessions to adult cancer patients as part of the one-year pilot programme.

‘Prehab’, short for prehabilitation or preventative rehabilitation, is a well-documented approach to increasing fitness and optimising the health of patients ahead of oncological care or surgery.

The list of Club charities to host the weekly two-hour sessions include Accrington Stanley, Barrow AFC, Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool FC, Burnley FC, Fleetwood Town, Morecambe FC, and Preston North End.

Susan Saul, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist for Prehabilitation, said: “Proven benefits of [prehabilitation] include reduced side effects of treatment, a reduced risk of complications, shorter length of stay and a quicker recovery.

“There was very little service in our area, so we were looking at ways to offer prehab across our entire region. In working with all our EFL Clubs, we are able to do just that.

“I have been working with the Clubs for around 18 months now, and we are all really excited to be able to deliver this.”

Tailor-made for participants, session activities will comprise group exercises and the chance to sit down with fellow patients and support staff for a cup of tea and a chat.

Patients aged 18 and over will be able to self-refer onto sessions, and oncologists, surgeons, clinical nurse specialists, multi-disciplinary teams, clinical reference groups and Macmillan staff will also have access to all relevant information regarding sessions taking place at local Clubs.

Lee Walsh, Head of Sport and Health at Accrington Stanley Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to be a part of this project; football can achieve so much in the community and this is a great example of that.”

While Emmanuel Angelo, Community Engagement Officer at Barrow AFC Community Foundation, added: “With this programme, we aim to empower others to take control of their health journey and improve recovery outcomes.”