West Ham United is pleased to celebrate the brilliant work of The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK at Saturday's Premier League home fixture against AFC Bournemouth.
Read on for a message from one of the Club's Official Charity Partners, for more information and to find out how you can get involved...
Tackling bowel cancer is a team effort that includes everyone - from the researchers in the lab, to those who give generously to fund our pioneering research.
The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK raises vital funds for bowel cancer research and aims to increase public awareness of the disease.
The fund was set up 32 years ago in memory of West Ham United and England great Bobby Moore, who sadly died of bowel cancer in February 1993, aged 51. Since then, we’ve raised more than £31m thanks to the generosity of our supporters.
While mortality rates for those diagnosed with bowel cancer have fallen by more than a third since Bobby’s death, bowel cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK. There are around 44,000 new bowel cancer cases every year.
We need to continue our mission to tackle it. By supporting the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, you can contribute towards a world where everybody can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of bowel cancer.
How you can help tackle bowel cancer
The Bobby Moore Fund’s flagship campaign, Football Shirt Friday, is back on Friday 25 April. West Ham fans - we’re calling on you to join the Football Shirt Friday squad!
It’s easy to get involved in the campaign: wear your favourite football shirt, share a selfie on your social media and donate £5 to tackle bowel cancer. Get your friends, colleagues and family involved too.
To find out more, and sign up, click HERE. Once you sign up, you’ll get your own giving page to fundraise online and will be emailed a free downloadable fundraising pack with plenty of ideas to support you to score your goals.
April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month, so if you can’t take part on 25 April, just choose any other day.
One hundred per cent of the money raised from Football Shirt Friday will fund pioneering bowel cancer research.
Help us give bowel cancer the boot - sign up today!
We don’t need to tell you how important kit is. Wearing yours for Football Shirt Friday helps the Bobby Moore Fund tackle bowel cancer.
And there’s another kind of kit that helps people affected by bowel cancer. The ‘FIT’ kit is used in the bowel cancer screening programme. It looks for early signs of bowel cancer in people without symptoms. It can help diagnose bowel cancer at an early stage, when treatment is more likely to be successful.
Take possession
Make sure you’re registered with a GP to be invited for bowel screening. You’ll be sent your first kit in the post between the ages of 50 and 60, along with information to help you decide whether you want to take part.
Stay in the game
We encourage people to take part in bowel screening, and you’ll be sent a kit every two years up until the age of 74.
But no matter your age, don’t ignore any unusual changes. Bowel cancer symptoms can include blood in your poo, a change in your normal bowel habits, losing weight without trying to and pain in your abdomen or back passage.
Whether it’s listed here or not, and even if you’ve been screened recently or you are due for screening, tell your doctor if something’s not quite right.
Teamwork
Some people may find this topic embarrassing to talk about, but spotting bowel cancer early saves lives. Talk to your friends and family about bowel screening and help more people to live longer, better lives.
Barclay’s story
Barclay, a former company director from Angus, North-East Scotland, has three children and four grandchildren. He said: “I’ve participated in the home bowel cancer screening programme religiously since being invited, and in 2017, following a routine test, an abnormality was seen. Prior to this, I’d experienced no symptoms which would have led me to believe I had bowel cancer.
“Following a colonoscopy and an abdominal scan, which identified a minute tumour, I had keyhole surgery where 20 per cent of my colon was removed to tackle the cancer and prevent it from spreading. The follow-up programme runs for four years post-surgery, and I have now officially completed it.
“Following my experience, I was astonished to learn that many people don’t take part in the home bowel cancer screening programme for various reasons. It’s important to overcome these reasons, as early diagnosis can save lives and prevent extensive treatment. I feel especially lucky to have had my problem diagnosed early and can only be grateful for the bowel screening programme.”
To find out more about the Bobby Moore Fund, click HERE.
