Local football stars are encouraging everyone in Hertsmere to get checked for cancer before it is too late, as part of a pioneering awareness-raising project with the NHS.
Boreham Wood FC and Watford FC players have lent their voice to support the Hertsmere Against Cancer project, urging residents “don’t delay getting tested”. As part of the project, which is being delivered by us and the NHS, anybody identified as eligible for cancer screening but who has not taken up their invitation, will be called by trained NHS staff and offered advice and support to book an appointment to get checked.
Links to the videos are available at the end of the release.
Luke Garrard, First Team Manager for Boreham Wood FC, said: “The Club fully supports the Hertsmere Against Cancer campaign. Cancer affects so many. It will sadly affect everyone in some way across their lifetime, either directly or indirectly. It is so important that awareness is raised locally on self-checking, as well as the screening opportunities available.
“We will continue to work closely with Hertsmere Borough Council to raise awareness to help increase early diagnosis, survival rates and ultimately save lives.”
Councillor Meenal Sachdev, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure, Culture and Health, said: “It’s great to have support from local influential figures for this incredibly important project.
“We can all play our part in raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and we must understand the importance of regular self-checking and undergoing screening when invited.”
The project is the first collaboration between us and the NHS since the Herts and West Essex Integrated Care System came into force. It is being funded by Hertfordshire County Council and delivered in partnership with Locality Delivery Group, Herts 5 and Potters Bar Primary Care Networks, Herts Health and Local Patient Participation Groups.
Hertfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Public Health and Community Safety, Morris Bright MBE, said: “We are committed to making Hertfordshire a place where everyone has the opportunity to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.
“National cancer screening programmes save lives and increase survival rates, yet uptake levels continue to be low in parts of our county and among some groups, such as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups.
“We are funding this programme as part of our commitment to tackling health inequalities at the grass roots level and would encourage everyone to get involved.”
This week (20-26 February) is "Cancer Prevention Action Week" which aims to raise awareness of cancer and cancer prevention, encouraging everyone to take action. This year the focus is on how people can cut back on processed meat, which is linked to bowel cancer. You can find more about it here.
Screening involves testing apparently healthy people for signs of the disease, allowing cancer to be found at an early stage or even prevented. Find out more about screening at Screening for cancer | Cancer Research UK
Boreham Wood FC video: https://youtu.be/6b6Si7DZGd4
Watford FC video: https://youtu.be/iwGNHJ5A20c
Posted on Tuesday 21st February 2023