Adelaide Crow’s Patrick Dangerfield and Nathan Van Berlo have issued a Call To Arms challenging South Australia’s local sporting clubs to help tackle men’s cancers.

As Call To Arms Ambassadors the Crow’s players are keen to promote the cause for personal reasons and are proud to be part of Adelaide and Essendon Football Club’s Call To Arms match at AAMI stadium on July 3.

The awareness and fundraising effort will see yellow match balls, goal flags, centre circle and umpire uniforms complementing yellow warm up guernseys on the players who are calling for local clubs to register their own matches.

“Unfortunately my family has faced a constant battle with cancer over the past ten years.  I’ve had four family members diagnosed with cancer in that time and lost both my uncle and my beloved Pop in 2008.  I was in my final year at school and in my first year with the Adelaide Crows and it was a really, really tough time,” says the Crow’s Patrick Dangerfield.

“There is no topic closer to my heart than the fight against cancer.  I feel very proud to be able to help raise awareness about the Call To Arms campaign and the fight against men’s cancers.  Together we can make a difference.”

Nathan Van Berlo says “I am personally involved because I’ve seen the cancer fight first hand when my Poppa was diagnosed a few years ago. Thankfully, he’s fine now, but I’m pleased that the Adelaide Football Club understands how important it is to educate everyone about the fight against men’s cancers.”

“Call To Arms is a month long national sporting effort inviting teams and clubs from all ages, leagues and codes to tackle what could be their toughest opponent yet – cancer,” says Professor Brenda Wilson, Chief Executive, Cancer Council SA.

“Compared to women, men are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and less likely to survive their diagnoses.

“Every year almost 5,000 South Australian men are diagnosed with cancer and almost 2,000 men die from the disease.  The reality is it could be your father, brother, husband, son or best mate.

“Call To Arms gives sporting clubs the ability to help save men’s lives and the funds raised will help prevent and detect cancers, find new treatments, as well as support those affected.”

Call To Arms is open to all ages, from junior leagues up to professional clubs of all codes. For more information and to register, visit www.calltoarms.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85.

Notes to editors:
Call To Arms was born out of the Clash for Cancer first held by Essendon Football Club three years ago, when the team wanted to show its support for one of its players, Adam Ramanauskas who had been diagnosed with cancer for the second time

Statistics on men’s cancers in SA
• About 4,900 South Australian men are diagnosed with cancer each year.
• By this time tomorrow, 13 South Australian men will have heard the words ‘you have cancer’.
• The most common cancers facing men in SA are lung, colorectal and prostate cancer.
• The Australian survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent in the past two decades.
• While more than 60 per cent of South Australian men will now survive a cancer diagnosis, cancer remains the leading cause of death.  Every year about 1,900 SA men will lose their lives as a result of the disease.
• Many men don’t realise that up to 50 per cent of cancers are preventable.  You can reduce your cancer risk by not smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating healthily and exercising.
• Not smoking, or giving up, is the single most effective strategy to prevent cancer.  Nationally, one in nine cancer cases, and more than one in five cancer deaths (more than 7,700 every year) are caused by cigarette smoking.
• Those with questions about cancer can call the Cancer Council SA Helpline on      13 11 20.