Burton Albion Football Club

BURTON Albion first team coach Andy Garner has signed up for a free prostate cancer screening at the Pirelli Stadium.

Andy kicked off a week of men’s health initiatives being organised by Burton Albion Community Trust by taking coaching at a weekly football session for the over 50s.

The over 50s are the target age group for the screenings and BACT’s health and inclusion manager John Widdowson was on hand to ask the footballers to help  spread the word about the screenings.

John said: “Andy was brilliant answering questions, putting the footballers through some warm up exercises and then coaching them throughout the session. It was a great way to start our activities and fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK and Andy has now signed up for a screening and hopes as many men as possible follow his example and get a check.”

Burton Albion and Queen’s Hospital have joined forces for this 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 also see a charity collection for Prostate Cancer UK take place at Saturday’s home game against Oldham and an information stand will be manned  by hospital staff.

The Jeff Stelling-led Men United fund-raising walk with dozens of Albion supporters joining the Derby County to Burton Albion leg will arrive at the Pirelli Stadium on Friday and is just one of the men’s health events being organised during the initiative, which also includes a football tournament at St George’s Park.

The screenings at the Pirelli Stadium will take place on March 30 and 31 and places can be booked now.

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."

-       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.

For information on over 50s football sessions organised by Burton Albion Community Trust go to burtonalbioncommunitytrust.co.uk