BURTON Albion and Queen’s Hospital have joined forces for an innovative health campaign designed to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
The campaign, which hopes to take away the ‘fear factor’ and enable men to seek advice, will see screenings take place at the Pirelli Stadium as well as a range of health activities and fund-raising drives for Prostate Cancer UK.
The campaign will be focused on the Easter weekend and Albion’s home game against Oldham on Saturday, March 26.
The Jeff Stelling-led Men United fund-raising walk, which sees Brewers fans walking with the Sky TV presenter from Derby County’s iPro Stadium to the Pirelli Stadium, will take place on Good Friday, with a collection for Prostate Cancer UK at the televised Oldham game the following day.
The screenings at the Pirelli Stadium will take place on March 30 and 31 and places can be booked now.
The health activities start on March 21 and will be supported by Albion defender Damien McCrory, our Prostate Cancer UK ambassador.
Jyoti Shah, consultant urological surgeon at Queen’s Hospital in Burton, said: “Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer in the western world. The good news is that people tend to live with it rather than die because of it.
“This campaign is about raising awareness and dispelling the myths and about how we can help people who have to go through that journey.
“It is innovative working with a football club and it’s the perfect way of reaching a large number of people in our target group (men aged 50 plus) who might not want to visit a doctor or a hospital but may be more receptive to a health initiative through the football club they support in an environment they are familiar with. Coming to a football club to have a screening for a potential cancer does take away some of the fear factor.”
Burton Albion Community Trust will be working with hospital staff on the campaign.
Head of community Andy Taylor said: “Health is one of the key areas for the trust and we are delighted to be able to be part of this campaign which can have a big impact on men in the danger group by educating them about the potential dangers and providing them with help and advice at the football club that many of them visit week-in, week-out.”
Burton Albion chairman Ben Robinson added: “One of the important things for us is using the profile of the football club to make a difference to the people of Burton and this campaign will have tangible benefits and I would urge our supporters to find out more and donate to this cause if they can.”
Brewers manager Nigel Clough has also added his support for the campaign.
He said: "We are pleased we can play a part in raising awareness among our fans about prostate cancer with the activities and screenings taking place at the Pirelli Stadium. We would also urge our fans to support the fund-raising activities that will contribute valuable funds for the Prostate Cancer UK charity."
Receive a free prostate cancer screening, including a PSA blood test and rectal examination of the prostate with Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at the Pirelli Stadium on March 30 and 31.To find out what the test involves and book your appointment telephone 01283 593172 or email bactadmin@burtonalbionfc.co.uk to get more information.
PICTURED are: Ben Robinson (Burton Albion chairman), Sarah Minns (urology advanced nurse practitioner), Jyoti Shah (consultant urological surgeon) and Andy Taylor, head of community at BACT.