Premiership rugby players including Ugo
Monye, Danny Care and Tim Payne are backing a new campaign to raise
awareness of prostate cancer this season. They will don 'The Blue'
-- a custom fit OPRO mouthguard which will include Prostate Cancer
UK's logo instead of the traditional club design mouthguards.
Ugo Monye of Harlequins explains: "Blokes
spend so much time going to the gym and looking good but we don't
always pay such close attention to our health. We must be aware of
prostate cancer, which if caught early can be treated successfully.
I didn't know that African Caribbean men are three times more
likely to develop the disease than white men -- it really is
something that we need to think about."
Teammate Danny Care said: "Any man over the
age of 50 needs to be particularly aware of prostate cancer. I
would encourage all men concerned about the disease to face their
fears and go and see their GP, or call Prostate Cancer UK's
Helpline to find out more. It is time to put yourself, and your
health, first."
Leading mouthguard manufacturer OPRO have
created the mouthguards, which will be worn by the likes of Charlie
Hodgson, Schalk Brits, Ollie Kohn, Tom Homer, Luke Fielden and
George Robson, who are already showing support for the campaign.
Fans can also back the move and raise funds by ordering their very
own custom fit or OPROshield version from www.prostateRFC.org.uk.
Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Prostate
Cancer UK, said: "It is fantastic to see the world of rugby getting
together to help tackle such an important men's health issue.
Despite being the most common cancer in men, prostate cancer
remains a disease that many men are reluctant to confront. We must
challenge this so we can begin to reduce the number of men dying
from this disease every year. We are excited to be getting this
message to men through the rugby pitch, and what better way than to
hear it -- or should I say, see it -- than from the mouths of top
players."
Richard Evans, Sales Director at OPRO said:
"We are delighted to be working with Prostate Cancer UK. Both the
rugby and sporting worlds have lost many great individuals to this
disease, and we hope that by linking up we will not only be able to
provide some valuable exposure about the disease itself but also
raise much needed funds for those living with prostate cancer."