West Ham United proudly hosted a special screening of Premier League Stories: Dylan Tombides at Curzon Bloomsbury to mark the start of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month.
The documentary celebrates the life and legacy of Tombides, a hugely talented striker who tragically passed away in 2014 at just 20 years old, following a three-year battle with testicular cancer.
Attended by West Ham United and DT38 representatives and supporters including DT38 Co-Founder and mother of Dylan Tombides, Tracylee Tombides, mens’ first team Head Coach, Graham Potter, West Ham United Director, David Sullivan Jr, West Ham United Academy Manager, Kenny Brown, former West Ham United player and DT38 Ambassador, Matt Jarvis, retired goalkeeper and football agent Joe Sealey, Bake Off winner, Matty Edgell and presenter and author, Georgia Harrison, the event kicked off a month of activity to raise awareness of the disease, its symptoms and where to get support in association with the DT38 Foundation.
The charity was founded in Dylan’s memory by his mother, Tracylee, and the Tombides family. As an official charity partner of West Ham United, DT38 is dedicated to educating young men about testicular cancer, encouraging regular self-checking, and promoting early detection – all with the aim of saving lives.
The Premier League Stories documentary offers a powerful insight into Tombides’ remarkable life and career, charting his journey from his home city of Perth, Western Australia, through Macao and Hong Kong to east London, his diagnosis following a failed doping test at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2011, his incredible character and resilience during his treatment, including a first-team debut in 2012, and his sad passing eleven years ago this month.
His mother Tracy said: “Dylan's determination to be a professional athlete for a long time and a cancer patient for a short time endeared him to everyone that he came into contact with. During his three-year battle with testicular cancer, Dylan trained continuously, with the club making sure that his football and medical needs were connected. His resilience, his determination, his love are the driving force for all of us at DT38, with our mission to save lives through early detection, our focus. His story is so incredibly sad, he had the world at his feet.”
Vice-Chair Baroness Karren Brady provided the family with support throughout Dylan’s battle and has maintained a close relationship with Tracy.
Baroness Brady said: “Dylan was an exceptional young man whose strength and determination in the face of adversity were truly inspirational. His legacy lives on not only through DT38’s life-saving work but also in the hearts of everyone at West Ham United. Tonight’s event is a fitting tribute to Dylan’s remarkable story and a chance to raise further awareness of the importance of regular self-checking and early diagnosis.”
A father himself, Potter was honoured to attend the screening. He said: “It is a moving and heartbreaking story which is full of inspiration. It is incredible how his family dealt with everything. I’m inspired by how strong they have been through Dylan’s tragic story, inspired by what Dylan achieved and to now raise awareness of testicular cancer and hopefully help save more families going through the terrible tragedy they went through, it is incredibly moving.”
Throughout April the Club are working with DT38 to deliver awareness sessions to supporter groups, staff and specially tailored sessions with Academy players and parents.
The DT38’s charity selected fixture will be the Premier League fixture between West Ham United and Southampton on 19 April, with the Club raising awareness across Club channels throughout the month.
