The Jockey Club and three young jockeys – Charlie Bishop (25), Oisin Murphy (23) and Tom Marquand (21) – teamed up with the Movember Foundation to raise awareness of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month and the QIPCO British Champion Series.
The trio of jockeys – who number among horse racing’s brightest stars – stripped off for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month and highlight the fact that the best place for men to check themselves for the disease is in the shower.
The initiative, which also announced Movember as the official charity partner of QIPCO British Champions Series (The UK’s elite flat racing series), was promoted through an online video.
The partnership with Movember seeks to raise awareness of a range of mens’ health issues amongst horse racing fans in general and the hundreds of thousands of people who follow the QIPCO British Champions Series race days in particular.
The activation also promotes tickets to QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 19 October go to britishchampionsday.co.uk and the Movember Foundation at Movember.com.
Tom Marquand, former Stobart Champion Apprentice Jockey said, “It’s shocking to think that almost two-thirds of 18-34 year old men don’t know that they’re in the most at-risk age group for this disease. It’s so important that men know their risk and check themselves regularly. Anything that we can do to raise that awareness is really positive.”
“As lads in the weighing room and in all walks of life there is always a lot of banter but it can sometimes be hard to really talk to people about the serious health issues that affect men,” added jockey Oisin Murphy at the partnership launch event.
“We know to our cost that mental health issues, in particular have affected many in racing, so I think this is a brilliant partnership which will hopefully bring some of these things out in the open and help people get the support they need. I am proud to be a part of it.”
Rod Street, Chief Executive of British Champions Series added: “We are proud to partner with such an important charity as Movember. The issues that Movember addresses touch all our lives – whether it’s related to a brother, son, father, friend, husband or partner who has been affected by cancer or mental health issues. Through this partnership, which is the first of its kind for QIPCO British Champions Series, we will be supporting Movember’s vital work in tackling the biggest health issues facing men and in raising awareness to help stop men from dying too young.”
Owen Sharp, CEO of Movember said, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with QIPCO British Champions Series, and for their support during Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. The fact that so many men are unaware that they are in the highest-risk age group is very worrying. There’s a widespread assumption that it’s a disease that predominantly affects older men but that’s just not the case. Testicular cancer strikes young so checking your nuts regularly and knowing what to look for is crucial.”
Comment:
The QIPCO British Champions Series showcases 35 of the UK’s finest Flat races: including six of the world’s top 12.
The Series features many of the UK’s most iconic Flat festivals, from the Derby and St Leger, to Glorious Goodwood and Royal Ascot, presenting unparalleled, quality racing across 10 of the country’s finest racecourses.
The Series exhibits world-class sporting action across five different categories – Sprint, Mile, Middle Distance, Long Distance and Fillies & Mares.
Five top-class races mark the climax of the Series on the Ultimate Raceday, QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 19 October: where the world’s best compete at the nation’s richest race day.
Put simply, QIPCO British Champions Series shines the spotlight on the best horses, the best jockeys and the best racecourses, so that millions worldwide can follow the finest Flat racing.
While Movember is the leading global voice in addressing the biggest issues facing men’s health including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer amongst young men and the month of April is used as an awareness springboard across multiple events, partnerships and fund raising initiatives.
The best place for men to check themselves for the disease is in the shower
In most cases, the outcome for men with testicular cancer is positive, but a 95% chance of survival is no comfort to the 1 man in 20 who won’t make it.
Links:
The Jockey Club
https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/
Movember
QIPCO British Champions Series
http://britishchampionsseries.com/
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