
‘Get to know cancer’ celebrated at Fulham match
Tue 22 April 2014, 14:00|
Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday’s victory against Fulham saw players wearing special-edition ‘Get to know cancer’ shirts as we marked a season of support for the campaign that aims to raise awareness of cancer symptoms and promote the importance of early diagnosis.
Demonstrating our commitment to fighting cancer, the Fulham game was dedicated to ‘Get to know cancer’, where we celebrated the news that the Club will be extending its support for the campaign for another season.
The legendary Gary Mabbutt welcomed a number of ‘Get to know cancer’ activists to the pitch at half time, where he thanked volunteers on behalf of the Club for their efforts in helping to raise awareness of cancer and handing out potentially life-saving information to fans at home matches this season.
So far, our support of ‘Get to know cancer’ has had a significant impact, with half of fans who took part in a recent survey saying that the knowledge they had gained from the campaign had changed the length of time they would usually wait to get advice about unexplained changes in their health. A number of supporters had also been prompted to seek medical advice.
Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has backed the Club’s work with ‘Get to know cancer’ for a second time since the start of the campaign partnership. Using the Club’s high profile and global appeal, awareness levels of the campaign will have the potential to reach Tottenham Hotspur fans across the world.
Upon learning of the extension of this unique partnership, he said: “Tottenham Hotspur is doing a fantastic job to raise awareness of cancer, which will affect four in ten Londoners. We are also big supporters of the ‘Get to Know Cancer’ campaign, because key to successful treatment and saving lives is early diagnosis. I hope that the work Spurs are doing will encourage many more people to come forward for advice or to be checked for symptoms.”
Dr Andy Mitchell, Medical Director of NHS England (London), said: "In the time it takes the average commuter to get home this evening, three Londoners will hear the news that they have cancer. That’s 82 people every day – enough to fill a double decker bus. It’s no surprise that cancer is at the top of the list of health concerns for London’s residents, and its NHS services.
"That is why I am delighted that Tottenham Hotspur is continuing to work in partnership with us on our 'Get to know cancer' campaign - designed to encourage people to do the single most important thing to beat cancer: get help sooner. The Club has been instrumental in supporting the campaign in the 2013/14 season, helping raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of the disease at home games, in pop-up clinics and online.
"We - and London's patients - are grateful to Spurs for their vital support and we're excited about next season's campaign. We look forward to working together to send out a clear message that - with early detection - cancer is treatable, even beatable."
Since last August, the Club has worked with a number of cancer charities through the ‘Get to know cancer’ campaign including: CoppaFeel!, Cancer Research UK, Ovarian Cancer Action, The Roy Castle Lung Foundation, Beating Bowel Cancer and Bowel Cancer UK.
The shirts worn in Saturday’s game will be signed by the players and put up for auction to raise money for these charities, with the auction due to go live later this week.
Further details about the auction will be announced in due course.