Football fans urged to sign up for cancer campaign

Football supporters are being encouraged to compete for their club in a prostate cancer fundraising campaign.

Prostate United was set up in 2018 by Stephen Gilpin, assistant director of performance at Wolverhampton Wanderers, along with former colleague Ross Burbeary.

Gilpin said he launched Prostate United in memory of his grandfather, Norman, who died from prostate cancer in 2010.

He said: "Losing my grandad to prostate cancer had a huge impact on my family and inspired me to do something that could make a real difference."

Gilpin added: "Football has an incredible ability to bring people together, regardless of who you support, and that's exactly what Prostate United is all about."

Since it was founded, the campaign has raised more than £1m for Prostate Cancer UK, with people taking part asked to get sponsored to walk, run or cycle every day in October.

The fundraisers are also asked which club they follow and the total raised by each club's fans are then fed into a league table.

Last year supporters of Doncaster Rovers raised the most and were crowned champions.

A number of former footballers have already signed up to take part in this year's appeal, including Chris Hughton and Mick Harford, who have both been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

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