Stobart Widnes Vikings show a flesh approach to charity

Wednesday 10th March, 2010

The Stobart Group-sponsored Widnes Vikings rugby league team are getting behind a campaign to tackle the problem of men’s cancers.

For their Co-operative Championship match against Halifax on Thursday 18 March, the Vikings will raise funds for men’s cancer charity Everyman by wearing a flesh-coloured kit. The club wants as many people to come to the game as possible to show their support and will be donating a portion of the gate money to Everyman.

Stobart Ports managing director and Widnes Vikings chairman Steve O’Connor said: “Nearly everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Unfortunately, among men it is still a problem we don’t like to talk about. We want our support for Everyman to start the conversation – with men and their wives and girlfriends, and among their friends.



“We want to help raise awareness of the symptoms – and how to get help – and also help to raise money for such an important cause.

“We have chosen the Halifax game because we are expecting a big crowd so we can make a significant donation to Everyman – and also because it will be a great game for everyone to watch.”

The charity’s mission is to stamp out testicular and prostate cancer by making everyone recognise the tell-tale signs, and understand the importance of treating them. By increasing this awareness Everyman also hopes to raise money to fund its life-saving research.

Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in young men, mostly between the ages of 15 and 44.

The majority of men with prostate cancer are aged over 60 with more than 35,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Possible risk factors include obesity, high fat consumption and low green vegetable consumption as well as exposure to radioactive substances.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £7 for children and £13 for adults when bought prior to the day of the game and can be bought from the O’Neills shop in Widnes town centre. Matchday tickets will be £2 dearer and will be sold from Stadium Fitness.

Donations can be made prior to the evening by going online to www.justgiving.com/widnesvikings ,or clicking on the EVERYMAN logo when it appears on the rotating partner board at the foot of the home page.

The replica shirt will be in stock from Wednesday 10 March but orders can be placed at the O’Neills shop. O’Neills will be making a £5 donation for each replica shirt sold, and the match shirts will be auctioned off after the match.