Earlier this year, the Town assistant-manager was diagnosed with the disease that kills one man every 45 minutes, and has just completed a two-month course of treatment that has included daily visits to UCLH in London for radiotherapy.
Staff at the football club wanted to do something to show they were with the 62-year-old former striker and manager every step of the way, and when head of performance development James Redden suggested joining the Prostate United challenge, the response was overwhelming.
‘Prostate United’ was created by Rotherham United duo Stephen Gilpin and Ross Burbeary three years ago, and since then has seen hundreds of football club staff run or cycle every day each November since 2018 to raise funds in the fight against the disease.
Since its inception as a two-man challenge, Prostate United has branched out into the sporting landscape, with participants running or cycling at clubs across the English football pyramid and the USA - as well as rugby league and ice hockey club staff – raising more than £80,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
And for the first time in 2021, participants have the option to choose a daily distance to run or cycle – either 10km, 5km or 3km on foot, or 25km, 15km or 10km on the bike.
The 54 Hatters who have signed up (so far!) will join more than 100 other staff members from clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool and Norwich, who have pledged to run or cycle every day, with the England national team also getting behind the challenge through elite physio, Steve Kemp.
Manager Nathan Jones said: “All the staff love Mick because he has time for everyone, so when it was suggested we do something to show our support of him in what he’s been going through with his treatment this past few weeks, running or cycling every day for Prostate United was the obvious choice.
“It doesn’t surprise me that more than 50 have joined up. Mick inspires everyone at Luton Town and we’ll all be finding time in our day to put ourselves through what is just a fraction of what he’s been through in these last few weeks.
“We can’t wait to have him back fit and well, and hope that every man reading this takes his advice to get themselves checked.”
Rather than each individual have a fundraising page of their own, we have created a joint Luton Town Just Giving page. If you feel able to support, please click on the link below...
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ltfcprostateunited
We know that many people will not be able to, or have already supported the many fundraisers that fans are undertaking themselves, which is fantastic. We, and our friends at Prostate Cancer UK, are so grateful.
The most important thing, which Big Mick has tried to stress since going public with his battle against the illness is for every man to get themselves checked, or to encourage partners, husbands, dads, uncles and grandads to be aware and get themselves checked out.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the level of support I’ve had in recent months, and this latest gesture from the staff at the football club is amazing," said Mick. “Together with Nathan, Gary Sweet and the board, I wanted to use my situation to help other people, and the most satisfying thing for me is to hear from so many Luton Town fans and football supporters in general who have been to get themselves checked.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting Prostate United and, just as importantly, thank you to everyone who is getting the word out there. It’s so easy to do, and it saves lives.”
To find out more information about Prostate Cancer UK’s work in football click HERE or anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: www.prostatecanceruk.org. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesdays.
And to help men find out whether they are at increased risk of developing the disease, Prostate Cancer UK has launched an online risk checker, available at prostatecanceruk.org/riskcheck where men can check their own risk in 30 seconds.
