England Players Join Bowel Cancer Campaign
Former England stars David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, John Terry, Michael Owen and David James have joined forces with the current national squad to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the England Footballers Foundation, supporting the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK and their ‘Moore To Know’ campaign.
As part of their support for the campaign, all eight ex-players have recorded interviews to raise awareness of bowel cancer, which kills 44 people in the UK every day. In the footage, the footballers explain the steps people can take to help prevent the disease, how to help spot the symptoms early and the importance of early diagnosis.
To further support the campaign, current England squad members including Harry Kane, Joe Hart, Jordan Henderson and Gary Cahill have posed for action shots that have been CGI-enhanced to feature their stomachs and focus on the bowel area.
The England players involved in the partnership are all part of the England Footballers Foundation which is celebrating its 10th anniversary year in 2017. For a decade, all of England’s players have donated their match fees to charity, raising millions of pounds for good causes. They have also conducted over 250 personal appearances out of squad time to support their chosen charities.
The Moore To Know campaign images, taken by sports photographer John Davis and digitally enhanced by design studio Vincent London, and interviews from all the current and former players can be seen online at www.englandfootballersfoundation.com. The content will form part of a nationwide bowel cancer awareness campaign for the Booby Moore Fund, from billboard advertising to doctor’s surgery leaflets. The hashtag #MooreToKnow will be the campaign slogan across the players’ social and digital channels.
Former England defender Gary Neville was integral to setting up the foundation a decade ago. He said: “Looking back at the ten years there has been an incredible amount achieved. It was a bold move at the time. The players’ committee and team created a foundation to do something very different. We were the first group of England players never to be paid to play for England. It was ground-breaking and something that received a lot of good attention.
More than 110 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every day in the UK, but more than half of bowel cancer cases could be prevented through changes to diet and lifestyle.
Bobby Moore’s widow and founder of the Fund, Stephanie Moore MBE, said: “We urge men and women to visit www.bobbymoorefund.org to learn about the measures you can take to prevent the disease and recognise the symptoms early. It’s absolutely key to have the England Footballers Foundation helping us as we find that the players really help us get the message across.”
David Beckham, who was England captain when the Foundation was launched, added: “I’m proud that the work we started for the Bobby Moore Fund is being carried on by the current crop of players to continue vital support to Stephanie Moore and the wonderful charity she set up in Bobby’s memory.
“The England Footballers Foundation has supported the Bobby Moore Fund since 2007 so in our tenth anniversary year it is fitting that England players past and present are coming together to reproduce and promote our previous Moore To Know campaign.”
