Sunderland manager Chris Coleman has lent his support to a high-profile campaign to tackle the most common cancer in men.
Coleman has joined forces with a host of top football managers to back Prostate Cancer UK’s awareness drive, and deliver as they deliver a series of passionate – and life-saving – messages as part of a high-profile campaign.
Shocking figures show that two men will die during the length of a football matchthat’s one every 45 minutesreinforcing the need to take action now against the disease.
As well as speaking out about the issue, football managers, many of whom have been directly affected by the disease, will have been wearing Prostate Cancer UK’s iconic ‘man of Men’ pin badge on the touchline during the 2017/18 campaign as the leading men’s charity cranks up the serious message.
Black Cats boss Coleman said: “Hearing that one man dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer is incredibly worrying; if you equate that to a game of football that’s losing two men per game. That’s unacceptable.
“It’s massively important to spread awareness of this terrible disease so wearing my Man of Men pin badge is one way to lend my support to this really important cause.
“I’m proud to have worn it on touchlines across Europe and will continue to wear it was pride at grounds up and down the country in my new role at Sunderland AFC .
“I know the club have always supported the work of Prostate Cancer UK – and our fans have really embraced some of their events from bikes rides to Amsterdam and epic walks up the country with Jeff Stelling. It’s a fantastic charity that does wonderful things for men and their loved ones, so I hope we can all stand together and fight back against this deadly disease.”
Coleman is among more than 40 managers to pledge his support across the football landscape, while Dyche. Dean Smith (Brentford) and Coleman’s predecessor at the Stadium of Light, Simon Grayson, have personal connections with the disease.
Former Clarets chairman Barry Kilby continues to fight back against the disease and Dyche has recorded an exclusive team talk, urging men to take stock of the situation and be aware of the dangers of the disease. Grayson lost his best friend Steve Garbett to prostate cancer in September 2014 and has helped raise more than £100,000 for the charity, led the charge. Smith has also praised the work of the charity as the club’s popular pitch announcer Peter ‘Mr Brentford’ Gilham battles the disease. Smith’s close friend Errol McKellar has successfully beaten prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer UK is the long-term Charity Partner of the EFL and is also a proud partner of the LMA allowing the charity access to football clubs, managers, players and supporters.
Their ground-breaking Football to Amsterdam bike ride, supported by the EFL, has raised more than £1.7m in the past five years, while Millwall and Scunthorpe United have both sported the Prostate Cancer UK logo on their kits.
To show your support and get a Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ pin badge to wear with pride, text BADGE to 70004 to donate £5* and help stop prostate cancer being a killer. For information about the badge and the charity’s work in football visit prostatecanceruk.org/whostheman.
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.