Wolves fans are invited to join other members of the pack on a ‘March For Men’ next month to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK and local prostate cancer support group BROS.
The disease is currently the most common form of cancer in the UK, affecting one in eight white men and one in four black men, but Wolves supporters are coming together on Father’s Day to fight it.
Junior Hemans, Wolves fan and founder of the Golden Black supporter group, is leading the initiative through his work with BROS [Brothers Reaching Out to and for Support] – a local prostate cancer support group – and on Sunday 15th June supporters will walk to raise awareness and funds.
The walk will take place on Father’s Day, to help spark conversations further, and those involved have the option of a two, five or 10 kilometre around West Park in Wolverhampton, with all Old Gold supporters invited to join in. Simply fill in this form and bring it on the day for a 9am assembly.
Supporters are invited to March For Men - the third instalment of the walk - in memory of those who’ve been lost to the disease, to support people currently going through treatment or simply to back a hugely important support group, with conversation a crucial aspect.
Hemans said: “We don’t have a history of men talking to each other, talking about health issues, so we’re trying to raise the discussion and Father’s Day we believe is a good day for it.
“We want the Wolves fan base to come along with us and wear their shirts. Many Wolves fans will be men, so it’s a chance for us to get together and have conversations about it. We’re looking to get as much support for the campaign to raise awareness.
“Since we started the BROS group, we’ve had more men get tested, some have had surgery, radiotherapy and some have had hormone treatment, but the important thing is they’re still here.”
BROS were set up in Wolverhampton in 2019 and host quarterly information sessions in the West Midlands to raise the awareness for prostate cancer, particularly amongst black men.
The meetings take place in conjunction with Prostate Cancer UK and present an opportunity for people to open up on the topic of prostate cancer, while a neurologist nurse attends each one to provide further support and information.
Money from the walk will go to both Prostate Cancer UK’s national efforts and the local work of BROS, with Hemans, given he spent a combined total of ten years on the boards of Wolverhampton Hospital and Walsall Hospital, aware how important money raised is.
“There’s no health screening for prostate cancer, so what we’re trying to do is push for a national screen programme for men and to bring localised awareness for men to get themselves tested. The earlier you get tested, the more the men we save.
“BROS is for all men because we’re in it together. From the money raised, we’ll keep half for local initiatives and support for individuals through a number of ways, especially when they’re going through hormone treatment, and the rest will go to Prostate Cancer UK.
“Working with Prostate Cancer, we’re going to start regional discussions in the Black Country. They’ve identified some events they’d like us to talk at and represent them in the West Midlands region.”
To sign up to the walk, or to simply donate, complete this form and bring it along to West Park at 9am on 15th June.
