The cry ‘Come on you boys in blue’ isn’t heard at Turner’s Cross too often, but that may change this Friday as Cork City take to the field in special one-off charity shirts for their FAI Cup tie against Maynooth University Town.
September is men’s cancer awareness month and, ahead of that, the Rebel Army will wear the blue versions of their green home shirts, worn with the normal home shorts and white away socks.
While City have had navy change kits in the past, this will be the first time that royal blue outfield shirts have been used.
The shirts will be auctioned on eBay throughout September, with the proceeds going to the Mercy University Hospital. City will also collaborate with the Mercy Cancer Care Centre on a number of online marketing campaigns throughout September.
Speaking on the initiative, Cork City/Foras board member Declan Carey said:
This is an excellent community initiative to help raise funds and awareness for men’s cancer.
It will be a very unique occasion to see City wear blue, and the shirts will be an extremely rare collector’s item for those lucky enough to get their hands on one in our upcoming online auctions!
We’re proud to work with the Mercy Hospital Fundraising team on a very worthy cause.
Mícheál Sheridan, Mercy Hospital Fundraising, said:
We believe that too many men die unnecessarily to cancer in Ireland every year. Through this exciting collaboration with Cork City FC, we want to raise awareness in men of all ages of the importance of looking after their health and not being embarrassed of seeking medical advice if they notice a change in their body.
Every year in Ireland, 12,000 men are diagnosed with cancer and just under 5,000 men die to cancer. There are over 2,400 cases of cancer diagnosed in Cork each year in both men and women. The most common cancer in men is Prostate cancer followed by Bowel and Lung Cancer. Testicular Cancer is most common in young men aged 15-40 and particularly in young men aged 25-40 so it’s vital that Cork men familiarise themselves with the signs and symptoms of these and other cancers and lead healthy lifestyles.
The Mercy Hospital Foundation is part of the Men’s Cancer Alliance (MCA) along with The Mater Foundation and Cancer Care West charities. The aim of the Men’s Cancer Alliance is to create awareness about men’s cancers, treatments and supports available and to raise funds to create and maintain a number of men’s cancer support initiatives.
The Mater Foundation, The Mercy Hospital Foundation and Cancer Care West are the three organisations behind the successful Blue September men’s cancers awareness campaign.
For more details, visit MensCancer.ie or MercyFu
