South Shields FC is proudly supporting this year’s Movember initiative – and is calling on fans to do the same.
The men’s health charity is taking on mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer with hundreds of projects around the country.
The most common of them is the growing of moustaches, which is something Mariners players including Luke James and Tom Broadbent will be attempting during the month of November, as will members of the office team at 1st Cloud Arena.
You can visit the club’s Movember page here, with the campaign backed by our charitable Foundation as part of its annual programme to raise awareness and support health and well-being.
Also taking part is club chairman Geoff Thompson, and this is a cause particularly close to his heart.
Geoff was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year after routine tests, and credits his promising recovery with the disease being caught early.
He said: “This time last year, I thought I was fit and healthy and had no signs whatsoever of any diseases or any ailments.
“I went to the doctor’s for the first time in six years, had a routine blood test and cutting a long story short, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“I think I’ve been lucky because it was caught early, and that’s certainly the message that all of the medics have given me. Getting it tested early and caught early is so important.
“I had surgery in the spring and am still being monitored and checked, but because it was caught early, I think I’ve been quite lucky. I’ve got everything crossed but so far, so good.
“It’s important to try to raise awareness, and it’s great that the football club is supporting this year’s Movember campaign.
“We’re trying to encourage awareness and get people involved, so please get behind this if you can.”
We will keep you updated with progress pictures across the month, so let’s see who manages to grow the best mo – and who doesn’t!
Could you give them a run for their money? Have a go yourself and join the South Shields FC Movember team here!
If you are able to donate to the cause, please visit one of the individual fundraising pages below, or the overall club page.