Essendon players have been spreading joy amongst patients across Melbourne this week in the lead up to Friday night’s blockbuster ‘Clash for Cancer’ match against Hawthorn.
As part of Cancer Council Victoria’s “Call To Arms” campaign, ambassador Paddy Ryder visited the Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute yesterday to raise awareness for the movement and brighten the day of those affected by the disease.
Dustin Fletcher, Brendon Goddard, Brent Stanton and Michael Hurley also took the time off training yesterday afternoon to visit young cancer patients at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Ryder has called on all supporters to get behind the ‘Call To Arms’ campaign and raise much needed funds for the Cancer Council Victoria’s ongoing research, prevention and support programs specifically for cancer in men.
“The Clash for Cancer is extremely important to the club, and it ties in with the legacy that Adam Ramanauskas has left,” Ryder said.
“We’re very happy that as a club we are a part of this campaign.”
Not only will Essendon and Hawthorn be battling it out for the coveted four points at Etihad Stadium on Friday, the two sides will also be fighting against cancer in men. This ‘ Clash for Cancer’ match is part of Cancer Council Victoria’s Call To Arms campaign – which asks sporting clubs of all levels and codes to select a match during their season, wear yellow and raise money for Cancer Council Victoria. Over $720,000 has been raised in Victoria since the event began in 2006.
Essendon will face Hawthorn in a top-of-the-table clash on Friday night, with all Bombers supporters urged to fill the cauldron with red and black.
Essendon players’ match-worn Clash for Cancer guernseys from Friday night’s match will be signed and auctioned online via the club’s website. All proceeds will go towards the Cancer Council Victoria.
Key statistics as follows:
- Excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, the most common cancers facing men in Australia are prostate, bowel, melanoma and lung cancer.
- Prostate cancer is more common in men than breast cancer is in women.
- The survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent in the past two decades.
- Whilst cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Victorian men, around one third of all cancers can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices such as reducing alcohol intake, not smoking, exercising, and eating healthily, along with regular check-ups.
Click here to sponsor Paddy for the Call To Arms campaign.
