Essendon star Patrick Ryder is proud to continue to support the fight against cancer this week, ahead of the club’s annual ‘Call To Arms’ game against Sydney on Friday night at Etihad Stadium.
The ruckman is the face of the Call To Arms campaign, now in its ninth year of partnership between Essendon Football Club and Cancer Council Victoria. The ‘Call To Arms’ game first originated after the club’s players wore yellow armbands in support of teammate Adam Ramanauskas who was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, and again in 2006.
This year, in an AFL first, Essendon Football Club and Cancer Council Victoria, along with Shout and in partnership with True Value Solar, will be producing a powerful match day activation at Etihad Stadium on Friday night. Nearly every seat at Etihad Stadium will have an A4 card attached to it, with fans being invited to write someone’s name who they know has been affected by cancer. At approximately 7.35pm, the crowd will be prompted to stand as one and hold up their cards as a sign of respect and solidarity.
For those who cannot make it to the game on Friday night, supporters are encouraged to download the Shout App, free from the App Store or Google Play or visit shoutforgood.com/cancercouncil to donate to Cancer Council Victoria.
On field, Essendon players will again wear its signature ‘Call To Arms’ guernsey with the yellow armband on the left side of the jumper. The club will auction off its match worn, signed player guernsey’s from Friday’s match with all proceeds going towards Cancer Council Victoria.
Key statistics around cancer in men:
- One in two men will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85.
- More men get cancer every year than women.
- Around 63,000 Australian men are expected to be diagnosed with cancer this year alone.
- Cancer is one of the leading causes of death amongst Australian men.
- The risk of a man dying from cancer before the age of 84 is one in four.
