BURTON Albion’s first team players have joined forces with Queen’s Hospital to raise awareness of health dangers.
The football club has already successfully linked up with the hospital to arrange free screenings at the Pirelli Stadium for prostate cancer. The programme was fully booked and was voted a major success in raising awareness amongst the danger group.
Now the club and hospital staff are highlighting issues surrounding high blood pressure and testicular cancer.
Brewers manager Nigel Clough volunteered to have his blood pressure monitored while several of the first team players had checks for testicular cancer.
The Albion boss said: “We are delighted that Burton Albion can help our local hospital raise awareness of health issues. We know how important it is not only for the players and staff here at the Pirelli Stadium to look after their health and fitness but also all of our supporters as well.”
Burton Albion Community Trust’s Health and Inclusion Manager John Widdowson said: “Following the success of our campaign surrounding prostate cancer we are now looking at two more important health issues.
“We want to encourage people to know what their blood pressure numbers are and how they can make sure they can keep themselves healthy through a balanced diet and plenty of exercise. It’s very important for us to work with the trained professionalsfrom Queen’s Hospital who can give advice on what people need to do.
“Testicular cancer is something that affects young men and therefore we thought it was important to get the Burton Albion players to help highlight the dangers. We want to encourage all our supporters to think about getting checked and to understand the dangers.”
Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer amongst men aged between 25 and 49 years old and the rate of men diagnosed with the illness has doubled in the last 50 years.
Burton Albion is supporting staff at Queen’s Hospital in highlighting the symptoms of testicular cancer as part of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, which is running throughout April.
Players and staff at the club are being offered screenings for testicular cancer and all men are being encouraged to self-examine.
Jyoti Shah, Consultant Urological Surgeon at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It’s incredibly important for young men to be aware of the dangersof testicular cancer and to seek help and advice if they are unsure. The illness is becoming increasingly prevalent across the UK and early detection of any lumps or swellings is crucial to successful treatment.”
Around 2,300 men in the UK are diagnosed with testicular cancer each year meaning more than six men a day are diagnosed with the illness. Testicular cancer starts as an abnormal growth or tumour that develops in one or both testicles. There are several types of testicular cancer, but the most common is the germ cell tumour.