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THE ENGLAND FOOTBALL TEAM URGE ALL MEN TO...
"KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL!"
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.
This year in the UK 30,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, that is equivalent to almost ¾ of the capacity of Anfield or Goodison Park. Almost 2,000 men per year are diagnosed with testicular cancer that's almost 5% of either stadium's capacity. Prostate cancer has overtaken lung cancer as the most common cancer in men in the UK and testicular cancer incidence has almost doubled over the past 20 years.
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 Ericksson who said:-
"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 said:- "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 said:- "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 2-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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Dogs Trust Merseyside appeals for home for real "K9"
STAFF at Dogs Trust Merseyside are hoping that the BBC's resurrection of Doctor Who will help them find a home for one of their real rescue dogs,
"K9". They are now appealing to all dog loving Doctor Who fans who might be interested in offering the Lurcher cross a loving TARDIS (home) of his own. K9 was originally from handed over to us as he was underweight and not in good health. He was called Twig but his name was changed to give him a new lease of life.
Dogs Trust Merseyside Rehoming Centre Manager, Richard Moore, comments:- "K9 is a lovely chap. He hasn't had the best start in life but we are hoping that this new appeal will find him the home he deserves. In an ideal world - or should I say universe, K9 will find an adult only home where his new owners will have the time and energy to keep up with this fun loving canine. Unlike the robot K9, our real K9 loves nothing more than playing in his toys. If you can offer him a home, please call us on 0151 480 0660."
As Doctor Who fans will know, Doctor Who's robot companion K9 won't be appearing in the BBC's new series. However, Dogs Trust were lucky enough to have an original robot K9 donated to them several years ago.
While the robot dog is now happily living out his retirement at the charity's Rehoming Centre in Devon, Dogs Trust knows only too well that many thousands of real dogs are not so lucky. Dogs Trust is the UK's largest dog welfare charity and cares for over 12,000 stray and abandoned dogs each year through its network of 15 Rehoming Centres nationwide.
JK Rowling is supporting young carers during MS Week
HARRY Potter author, JK Rowling is lending her support to The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and their young carers website, www.youngcarers.net, during MS week, 10 - 17 April 2005. The week, which is organised by the MS Society, is intended to raise awareness of the illness and how it affects the families. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is particularly concerned with how it affects the young carers families and has worked alongside the MS Society to produce special pages for young people who are looking after someone with MS.
As Patron of the MS Society Scotland, Ms Rowling, comments:- "Having seen my mother suffer with MS, and the way it affected her life, I cannot imagine what it would have been like if I had been 12, and trying to look after her and possibly my siblings at the same time. Yet this is the situation that 175,000 young people in the UK face; helping their parents or their siblings cope with illness or disability - and more often than not, also trying to keep the house running. I'm really pleased that young people who are looking after someone with MS and other illnesses, can get practical advice and support from www.youngcarers.net."
The Census estimated there is 175,000 carers aged under 18 in the UK today, including over 13,000 caring for over 50 hours per week. However a poll commissioned by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in September 2004 indicated that the number of young carers is much higher than the Census 2001 indicates, and is probably nearer one million young carers.
www.youngcarers.net provides information, support and advice to young carers across the UK and gives them an opportunity to post messages to other young carers and speak to them in a moderated chat room. The Trust also supports young carers through 75 young carers services across the UK.
Relocation of Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic at Southport Hospital
ON 25 April, the Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) Clinic at Southport & Formby District General Hospital will be moving to bigger, better, brighter premises within the hospital.
The new clinic, which is open to anyone with sexual health problems or concerns, will be in new premises towards the rear of the main hospital. The telephone number remains (01704) 513303 for people to phone for help and advice or to make an appointment.
To facilitate the move, the clinic will be closed for one week from Monday 18 April to Friday 22 April 2005. If people have problems during this time they should either contact their GP or visit the Accident and Emergency Department.
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