Dubai: Kick Cancer, a men’s health initiative to combat prostate and testicular cancer by Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) UAE, was launched in Dubai on Tuesday.
The campaign aims to use football as a catalyst to effect positive change and awareness of male cancers.
Activations, endorsed by footballers like Luis Suarez, include the #BinChallenge, where you have to film yourself getting a ball into a bin within three touches using your feet. This intends to make the campaign’s message of awareness and regular screening go viral on social media, while hopefully encouraging donations to raise funds for FoCP.
One in every three males will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime and an estimated 14 million worldwide will be diagnosed this year. That number is projected to rise to 24 million by 2035.
In the UAE, 20 per cent of all cancers among men is prostate cancer, with rates even higher in neighbouring GCC countries, indicating a lack of awareness among the population. Testicular cancer is the number one cancer in young men aged between 15 and 35, while prostate is most prevalent among men aged 40 years and over. This shows cancer can affect all ages.
Kick Cancer aims to spread the message that early detection saves lives and that simple self-examination and regular screening can be the difference between life and death.
For more information visit www.kickcancer.ae or email info@focp.ae and attempt the #BinChallenge to support #KickCancer2018 for #FoCPUAE. Donation-related information can be sought through haya@focp.ae.
