Welsh ex-international footballer John Hartson has launched a testicular cancer awareness raising campaign aimed at teenagers.
The former Celtic and Arsenal striker has launched the campaign – called ‘Grab your Life by the Balls’ – through the John Hartson Foundation in partnership with Velindre NHS Trust and Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The campaign is centred around an educational DVD and teaching pack, aimed at 15-year-old school pupils for use in school PSE lessons.
The DVD, produced with the help of pupils from Blackwood Comprehensive School, is a moving account of the football star’s battle with testicular cancer and how, through ignorance of the disease, it almost killed him.
He said: “There was very little in the way of awareness raising for important issues such as this when I was at school, therefore when I was contacted by Caerphilly County Borough Council to ask if I’d like to be involved in this testicular cancer awareness raising campaign, I was pleased to say yes.
“I truly believe that education from an early age of the signs and symptoms to look out for, together with the knowledge to act when men detect an abnormality, and understand that there is nothing to be fearful or embarrassed about in seeking medical advice, is key to tackling this illness.
“This awareness raising campaign is really important in communicating the ‘don’t be embarrassed’ message to the younger generation, and I hope my story will really emphasise the importance of being aware of this disease.”
The footballer, who played 51 times for Wales scoring 14 goals, spoke candidly to pupils at the launch of the DVD at Blackwood Comprehensive School on Tuesday. He revealed that he first discovered lumps seven years prior to being diagnosed with cancer but had done nothing about them.
By the time of the diagnosis in 2009, the cancer had spread to his lungs and brain.
Andrea Hague, director of Velindre Cancer Centre, said: “We are pleased to be involved in this important campaign, which aims to encourage young people to get to know their bodies and act upon any changes to their bodies at an early stage.
“If this campaign, by making young people aware of the warning signs to look out for, can save one life then it has been a success.”
Cllr Rhianon Passmore, cabinet member for education and lifelong learning at Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “It is so important that our young people are educated in the signs and symptoms to look out for, and this excellent innovative campaign will provide the tools to help ensure that this is the case.
“By having such a high profile figure as John Hartson join forces with us for the campaign, someone who has gone through the illness himself and come through the other side; I am confident that our young people will really embrace the vital messages contained within the campaign, which ultimately could save lives.”
Pupils from Blackwood Comprehensive School have been involved in the development of the campaign, from the very early ideas stage through to featuring in the awareness raising DVD itself.
Ravi Pawar, headteacher at Blackwood Comprehensive School said: “This valuable educational resource, starring a high profile figure like John, will really engage our young people and convey the important messages a campaign of this nature brings in a meaningful and powerful way.”