The London Golf Show has partnered with Prostate Cancer UK to raise valuable funds for the charity when the event takes place at Glow, Bluewater, in Kent, from August 26-28.
The leading men’s health charity has a simple ambition – to stop men dying from prostate cancer. Through shifting the science over the next 10 years to focus on radical improvements in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and support, the charity is convinced it can stop prostate cancer being a killer. And the London Golf Show is keen to assist.
A host of Prostate Cancer UK ambassadors will visit the three-day show including former Liverpool, Spurs and England goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach Ray Clemence – who has been fighting the disease for more than a decade. He will be joined by Premier League referee Lee Probert, whose father died from the disease; former England cricketer Gladstone Small, another man whose family has been affected by the disease; and the CBBC presenter of Officially Amazing and Match of the Day Kickabout, Ben Shires.
Clemence, 68, who was capped 61 times by England, said: “It’s been amazing to be part of the journey Prostate Cancer UK has made across the sporting landscape in recent years – particularly in my two passions football and golf.
“I’m proud to be an ambassador for the charity to make sure that everyone connected to football – the players, the fans, the staff and the managers – and golf knows about prostate cancer. Ignoring prostate cancer won’t beat it. Men need to know they are more at risk when we hit 50, if they have a father, brother or uncle who has had the disease, and if they are African Caribbean.
“My diagnosis came in 2005 after a conversation with the England physio and it’s something I’m still affected by to this day. It’s not going away but the team looking after me are doing a good job of keeping everything under control.
“From holding golf days to Chipping In and making your mistakes matter, Prostate Cancer UK’s work in golf continues to grow and that’s why the London Golf Show is such a good fit for the charity. See you there.”
The charity’s community fundraising manager, Jack Bacon, said: “Golf is massive for Prostate Cancer UK both in terms of awareness and fundraising. Over the last four years we’ve raised more than £1 million through golf events alone. With prostate cancer more prevalent in men over 50, the demographic matches that of golf, so it’s a perfect way for us to get the message out there.
“In recent years we’ve worked with captains and vice-captains at golf clubs as there won’t be a single golf club in the UK that hasn’t seen a member fall victim to prostate cancer. But we want to get the message out that with increased awareness comes an increase in the number of people being saved – it can be managed.”
Prostate Cancer UK has been working alongside the EFL (formerly the Football League) since 2012 to raise vital funds and awareness, and, across the sporting spectrum, has also linked up with the European Senior Tour. Indeed, this weekend, from August 19-21, the Prostate Cancer UK Senior Scottish Open takes place at Archerfield Links – the second time the charity has been granted the title sponsorship.
In the UK, one in eight men will get prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Older men, men with a family history of prostate cancer and black men are more at risk – and if you are the latter, the statistics are even starker – one in four.
People are largely unaware that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It’s a huge issue that cannot be ignored. In 2016 one man an hour will die from prostate cancer in the UK. That’s 10,900 men this year. Based on current trends, if we ignore prostate cancer and do nothing, this number will rise to more than 14,500 men a year by 2026. People are urged to search Men United and join the fight.
Volunteers from the charity will be at the show manning the various competition stands where a donation is required to participate. There will also be prominent Prostate Cancer UK branding across the show.
Tickets to the London Golf Show – which takes place at Glow, Bluewater, in Kent, from August 26-28 – are free for accompanied under-16s, and also for lady golfers, until August 25. Entry will cost £15 on the door.
Tickets can be purchased from www.londongolfshow.com/buy-tickets. To register for trade passes, please email Olivia Cooke at olivia@golfshowco.com