Today marks the eleventh anniversary of the passing of Dylan Tombides, the West Ham United Academy of Football graduate and forward who lost a long and brave battle with testicular cancer on 18 April 2014, aged just 20.
Fittingly, Saturday will be the annual Awareness Day at London Stadium for DT38, the testicular cancer charity founded in his memory by Dylan's mother Tracy, as we pay tribute to the talented Australian striker.
In a career tragically cut short, Dylan was given his first-team debut under Sam Allardyce in 2012, having been tipped by then-Academy Director Tony Carr for a bright future in football at the highest level.
Dylan continues to be remembered with great warmth at West Ham United, with Mark Noble recently taking up the role of Patron for the charity.
A powerful TV documentary about Dylan’s life, ‘PL Stories: Dylan Tombides’, has been broadcast worldwide by Premier League Productions and was shown at a special screening in central London at the start of April.
At the heart of DT38’s work is the importance of men and boys learning to check themselves every month for any signs of abnormality.
Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer among young men in the world and early detection is critical to increasing the chances of survival. If symptoms are discovered early enough, the disease is treatable.
Subscribers to the free DT38 e-calendar, launched in 2023, receive automatic reminders to self-check on the first day of the month and advanced notice of events sent to their mobile devices.
This initiative follows the ‘Check 1-Two’ campaign, set up in 2020, to remind men and boys to check their tackle on the first of every month.
The programme has benefited from widespread support across the world of football - Sir Trevor Brooking, Behzinga, Kevin Nolan, Tony Cottee, Mark Ward, Marlon Harewood, Jimmy Walker, Tony Gale, Matt Jarvis, Mile Jedinak, Bianca Westwood and Elliot Lee are among the stars to show their support for the campaign.
DT38 also works closely with West Ham United Foundation to educate young people in schools about the importance of wellbeing and has also organised several drop-in Ultrasound Scan events.
Around 2,400 men in the UK alone are diagnosed with testicular cancer every year, ranging from babies as young as six months to men in their 70s.
You can watch the TV documentary about Dylan Tombides’ life and career at dt38.org.
For more information about how to check yourself for signs of testicular cancer, click HERE.
Get in the ring for DT38!
DT38 Foundation is calling on Hammers fans to enter the boxing ring to join the fight against testicular cancer in its tenth anniversary.
The charity - which is the Principal Charity Partner of West Ham United FC - is hunting for people to join them for a thrilling day of White Collar Boxing on 16 November in east London.
Dylan’s mother Tracy Tombides, Co-Founder of DT38, said: “We’re urgently looking for men and women who fancy a fresh challenge and are wanting to make a positive difference to other people’s lives.
“If you want to experience the thrill of a ring walk to your own song, cheered on by a brilliantly supportive crowd at one of the world’s most famous boxing venues in the heart of Bethnal Green, then please get in touch.
“Our friends at Peacock Gym White Collar Boxing will support you all the way, to ensure you have a safe and exhilarating ‘bucket-list’ experience.”
No previous experience of boxing is necessary according to organisers ,who are searching for men and women to sign up for Awareness Below The Belt 7 at the prestigious York Hall in Bethnal Green.
Competitors will be carefully matched with people of a similar ability for their charity contest, which will be supervised by organisers Peacock Gym White Collar Boxing, who are partnered with DT38 for the event.
Famous faces including Conor Benn, Carlton Cole and Declan Rice have taken ringside seats for the event in recent years along with Colin McMillan, Anthony Yarde and Jermain Defoe.
Awareness Below The Belt is one of DT38’s main annual fundraising events and supports the charity’s work raising awareness of testicular cancer in memory of Dylan Tombides.
If you’re interested in getting in the ring for Awareness Below The Belt 7 contact dt38@dt38.co.uk.
