Eight cancer charities have united for Cancer Deadline Day, which will see football fans donate to various organisations and fight back against the disease.
Football supporters will be able to make donations via their club’s individual JustGiving page and select any amount. Teams will be ranked in the table by how much their fans raise for the charities by the ‘deadline day’ on 1 February. Fans will also be encouraged to tag at least five other people on social media to make a contribution to the cause.
The consortium of eight chosen charities have been confirmed as Breast Cancer Now, CLIC Sargent, Macmillan Cancer Support, Pancreatic Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK, The Ruth Strauss Foundation, Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Teenage Cancer Trust.
Paul Brown, a Director of Teenage Cancer Trust, explained how the COVID-19 crisis has affected cancer patients, with more than 50,000 ‘missing diagnoses’ across the UK as a result of the disruption caused by the virus.
“Teenagers and young people with cancer have been hit really hard by the pandemic,” he said. “Many have been shielding and unable to see their friends and are concerned that their treatment could be disrupted.
“Others fear catching the virus while their immune system is lowered, and some have had to face hospital visits and stays without loved ones due to infection control measures. They need help from our specialist nurses and support teams more than ever, but coronavirus has had a severe impact on Teenage Cancer Trust’s income, slashing it by a third; a shortfall of around £6 million a year.
“At this difficult time every penny really does count, so please get involved and make a transfer for cancer!”
