City support bowel cancer charity
This April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and football is uniting to support the fifth annual ‘Know the Score’ campaign.Players and managers are raising awareness of bowel cancer signs and symptoms by asking fans: “I #KnowTheScore – do you?”
Exeter City and Newport County AFC both warmed up in the Know the Score t-shirts ahead of the Easter Monday clash at St James Park and loads supporters showed their generosity and support by buying the ‘Star of Hope’ pin badges.
The Adam Stansfield Foundation, which was set up shortly after the death of City’s number 9 from bowel cancer almost five years ago, is an affiliate of the Know the Score campaign.
Bowel cancer is the UK’s third most common cancer, with 41,000 new cases each year. When it comes to cancer death, it’s the second biggest killer, but it needn’t be that way.
• If you notice any of the following and they last longer than three weeks, go and see your GP: bleeding from the bottom without obvious reason; a persistent change to looser or more frequent bowel movements; a lump in your tummy or tummy pain, especially if it’s severe.
• You’re not wasting anyone’s time by getting it checked out and, if it’s not serious, your mind will be put at rest. However, if it is bowel cancer, early diagnosis can make all the difference. Over 90% of those diagnosed early are successfully treated. A trip to your doctor’s surgery could save your life.
Matt Oakley said: “Bowel cancer can affect anyone at any age so it's really important everyone is aware of the symptoms as early as possible.”
You can get your ‘Star of Hope’ badges from Reception at St James Park. And look out for other leading figures in the game wearing theirs during the campaign, which is being supported by the Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association and leading bowel cancer charities including Bowel Cancer UK and the Bobby Moore Fund as well as the Adam Stansfield Foundation.
For more information visit www.knowthescore.org.uk or follow @KnowTheScoreUK on Twitter.