Cambridge United Football Club has forged a powerful new partnership with germ-cell charity The Robin Cancer Trust to launch a vital health awareness initiative. The campaign, boldly titled ‘Check Your Balls’, seeks to educate young men about the importance of regular self-examination and recognising the early signs of testicular cancer.
A Life-Saving Collaboration
This important campaign has previously gained support from fellow EFL League Two club Colchester United, highlighting a growing movement within football to address men's health issues. The core mission is to encourage young men to become familiar with what is normal for their bodies and to perform regular checks, a simple practice that can save lives.
Managerial Backing from a Survivor
The Cambridge United squad is championing this life-saving initiative with the full endorsement of their Manager, Neil Harris. Harris brings a deeply personal perspective to the campaign, having been diagnosed with testicular cancer himself back in 2001. After successfully overcoming the illness, he has dedicated considerable effort to raising awareness about the disease.
"We’re proud to support The Robin Cancer Trust ‘Check Your Balls’ campaign and help spread this vital message," said Harris. "It's such a fantastic charity doing such great work to provide awareness, education and support to young people. As a cancer survivor in 2001, I fully endorse and support the work that they do. My message would be if anyone has any doubt whatsoever, please see your GP."
Spreading Awareness Through Sport
To visually promote the message, Cambridge United players have posed with signs that clearly highlight the five key signs and symptoms of testicular cancer: a lump, hardness, swelling, pain, and a feeling of heaviness. Testicular cancer is notably the most common cancer in young men aged between 15 and 45. However, the prognosis is overwhelmingly positive when detected early, with a 95 per cent cure rate.
The Robin Cancer Trust’s Community Engagement Manager, Darren Couchman—who is also a testicular cancer survivor—will be visiting the club to deliver an awareness talk. This session will guide the first team and academy players on how to properly check themselves, equipping them with knowledge they can share within their own communities.
The Charity's Mission and Impact
Toby Freeman, founder and CEO of The Robin Cancer Trust, emphasised the power of such partnerships. "Partnerships like this one with Cambridge United are incredibly powerful in our mission to reach out to young people with a message that can genuinely save lives," Freeman stated. "Testicular cancer is highly curable when caught early and when people know the signs. Thank you to the team at Cambridge United for helping these conversations become normalised."
The charity was founded in 2012 by Toby Freeman following the tragic loss of his brother, Robin Freeman, who died from testicular cancer at just 24 years old. The Robin Cancer Trust is dedicated to saving lives through awareness, education, and support for young adults affected by testicular, ovarian, and germ cell cancers.
By leveraging the influential platform of a professional football club, this campaign aims to break down stigma and empower a generation of young men to take proactive control of their health, turning a difficult conversation into a normalised and potentially life-saving habit.
