Robbie’s March for Men

Arsenal Fan TV presenter takes on a 37-mile walking challenge to raise awareness of the increased risk of prostate cancer in black men

Arsenal Fan TV’s Robbie Lyle will kick-off the new Premier League season in style by walking to the Gunners’ first home match for Prostate Cancer UK – via every top-flight London club.

Inspired by the charity’s Stronger Knowing More campaign, which aims to raise awareness of the increased risk of prostate cancer in black men, not to mention the epic 15-day walk from Sky Sports host Jeff Stelling, Robbie will complete his own 37-mile mission across three days.

Arsenal host Leicester City in the very first fixture of the 2017/18 campaign when the Foxes head to the Emirates Stadium on Friday 11 August (7.45pm).

Robbie’s March for Men will start off at West Ham United’s London Stadium and will see him stroll to Selhurst Park, home of Crystal Palace, Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Wembley, temporary home of Tottenham Hotspur, all before he reaches Emirates Stadium, home of his beloved Gunners. He aims to be at the game two hours before kick-off.

Arsenal Fan TV will broadcast the walk with the larger than life host expecting several footballing friends to join him on the way as he aims to raise money and raise awareness of a disease that now strikes down one man every 45 minutes in the UK.

“They say the football season is a marathon not a sprint, but I’ve been training hard and I’m hoping to raise as much as I can to help stop prostate cancer being killer and walk alongside some amazing people along the way,” he said.

One in four black men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime – double the one in eight risk faced by white men. The PSA blood test is the first step towards diagnosis and black men are encouraged to start speaking to their GP about the test from the age of 45 – five years earlier than other men.

Back in January, Robbie attended the high-profile launch of Stronger Knowing More, and his ambitious walking plans honours his pledge to help stop prostate cancer being a killer.

Robbie continued: “Prostate Cancer UK invited friends, supporters and Londoners like me to come and hear about their new campaign which is raising awareness of the increased risk of prostate cancer black men over 45 face, but are likely to be blissfully unaware of.

“It’s fitting that it’s called Stronger Knowing More. I know people that have been affected by cancer but was stunned about the statistics of prostate cancer. One in four black men will be affected by this disease; that’s not good enough and it’s why I pledged to take action and help spread the word.

“I’m in awe of what Jeff Stelling achieved during his March for Men and it once again proved the power of football in making a mark and gave me the perfect platform to take my message to the London football family.”

Prostate Cancer UK is the Official Charity Partner of The English Football League (EFL). The charity’s successful partnership with the League Managers’ Association (LMA) has also led to a host of managers wearing Prostate Cancer UK’s Man of Men pin badge on touchlines up and down the land. That includes Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, and of course Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

Prostate Cancer UK’s Stronger Knowing More campaign aims to inspire black men to face their risk of prostate cancer by having the courage to talk to their doctor and spread the word, so that the disease is picked up earlier and treated in time.

Tony Wong, Prostate Cancer UK’s Men at Risk Programme Manager said: “We’re calling on black men everywhere to find the strength to overcome any embarrassment and find out about their prostate cancer risk. If prostate cancer is caught early it can be successfully treated – a two-minute chat with your GP could save your life.

“Robbie’s epic efforts will continue to wake men up to the need to take action. Thanks to the money raised we can fund more groundbreaking research to fight back against the disease. It will also help us provide dedicated support and information to men and their families and make prostate cancer a disease the next generation of men need not fear.”

You can support Robbie, and find out more about his epic challenge via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/robbiesmarch. Alternatively, text ROBBIE to 70004 to donate £5 and help stop prostate cancer being a killer.