Tuesday 5 April 2005
The England Football Team have kicked off the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign today by calling on football clubs from up and down the country to come forward and join the fight against male cancer. The players took time out of their training schedule to pose with the campaign's signature ‘lumpy ball’ urging all men to ‘check their balls for irregular lumps’. The campaign, run by The Professional Footballers’ Association, The Football Association and the Everyman Campaign, aims to raise awareness of testicular and prostate cancer among players and fans.
A recent survey of football fans, commissioned by the Everyman Campaign, found that a shocking 84% of men feel that they are less well informed about cancer than women. The survey also revealed that worryingly only 19% of men regularly check themselves for testicular cancer. When asked whom they would feel comfortable talking to if they were worried about testicular cancer, 7% said no one, 41% said their GP and 36% said girlfriend or partner. The results of the survey show that men need to be made more aware of the risks of testicular cancer, which the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign hopes to achieve by highlighting the issue.
The initiative has support from England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson who says: “The footballing community is not immune to the threat of cancer but by being more aware of the signs and symptoms of testicular and prostate cancer men can give themselves a fighting chance. I am delighted to support Keep Your Eye On The Ball as it’s a campaign which can ultimately help save men’s lives.”
Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association says: “We established the Keep Your Eye On The Ball campaign in response to a number of players discovering that they had testicular cancer. The players are now well enough to continue with their careers, demonstrating how early diagnosis and treatment can lead to full recovery. With this important campaign entering its fourth year, we would like to thank players and supporters alike for their contributions that have ensured its success.”
FA Chairman Geoff Thompson says: “Male cancers are too often ignored and overlooked and this is football’s opportunity to use its high profile to generate awareness of these diseases. I encourage everyone involved in English football to give their full support to Keep Your Eye On The Ball and am confident that the campaign will ensure that the whole footballing community is better informed.”
Philip Black from Everyman says: “The Keep Your Eye On The Ball Campaign brings together the leading organisations in football, The PFA and The FA, and in the field of male cancer, the Everyman Campaign. Together we can make a real difference in the fight against testicular and prostate cancer.”
Testicular cancer, if caught early, has a 96% cure rate and therefore it is essential that awareness of the symptoms is raised through campaigns such as Keep Your Eye On The Ball. Publicity for the campaign will focus on a two-week period, beginning today. Clubs and supporters nationwide are being encouraged to put information about male cancers on their websites and in their programmes to ensure that all their fans are aware of these types of cancer and to contact the Everyman Campaign for more ways to get involved.
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Regional press release information
For further information, a copy of the picture, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Everyman press office on the numbers below.
Note to Editors:
- Attention Picture Editors: Photograph available of (l-r) Jermain Defoe, Ledley King, Phil Neville and Joe Cole from the England Squad with the Keep Your Eye On The Ball lumpy ball. Credit: Mooney Photo and The FA
- Free Keep Your Eye On The Ball leaflets containing advice on the symptoms of male cancer are available. Please phone 0800 731 9468
- The survey of 315 male football fans was conducted on the PFA, FA and Everyman websites between the 17 th and the 29 th of March 2005. For a full copy of the survey results please contact the Everyman Press Office.
- The PFA and FA set up the ‘Keep your Eye on the Ball’ campaign with The Institute of Cancer Research’s Everyman campaign to ensure that all footballers and their supporters are aware of the symptoms of male cancer. This campaign was in direct response to the discovery that players Neil Harris, Alan Stubbs, Craig Forrest and Jason Cundy all had testicular cancer.
- Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men from 18-35. Incidence of testicular cancer has risen by 70% in the last 20 years but doctors do not know why.
- Everyman is The Institute of Cancer Research’s campaign to raise awareness of, and vital research funds for, male cancer. It is home to the UK’s first dedicated Male Cancer Research Centre. The Institute is a charity that relies upon voluntary funds.
For Press Enquiries, please contact:
Victoria Rae
The Everyman Campaign
Tel: 020 7153 5312
Simone Pound
The Professional Footballers’ Association
www.givemefootball.com
Tel:020 7329 9449
Philip Smith
The Football Association
www.TheFA.com
Tel: 020 7745 4545
To view the original edition of this document visit www.keepyoureyeontheball.org/press-release-050405.html