Tune in this evening on Sky Sports 1
CHARITY CHAMPION Jeff Stelling’s intrepid walk for Prostate Cancer UK is the subject of a special documentary which premieres on Sky Sports 1 on this evening at 22.30, titled Stelling’s March to the Arch.After teaming up with the leading men’s health organisation, the long-standing Soccer Saturday host completed ten walking marathons in ten days from 21-30 March 2016, strolling from Hartlepool United to Wembley and raising more than £365,000.
Now, Stelling and his supporting cast of more than four hundred from the epic Men United March will be able to walk down memory lane when the first showing of Stelling’s March to the Arch is aired on Sky Sports 1 this evening at at 22.30.
If you can’t catch the premiere of the documentary, which immediately follows the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Chelsea, there will be two repeat showings on Thursday 12 May at 18.30 and 22.30. Sky viewers can also watch via the On Demand, Sky Go and Catch-up services immediately following the first showing.
There will be laughter and tears as Jeff, who was joined every step of the way by close friend and Hartlepool Chief Executive, Russ Green, navigates his way down the country, facing many mental and physical challenges. From losing his bearings in Leeds on day two, to battling the elements and being intercepted by the Hartlepool team bus on Easter Sunday, not to mention some painful daily stints in the physio room.
The phenomenal £365,000 raised through the March will help fund vital research projects such as Professor Johann De Bono's at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, whose teams have been developing a genetic test for aggressive prostate cancer to help assess which men will respond best to a certain treatment.
Jeff said: “Ignoring prostate cancer won’t beat it, and I was proud to join the fight during the recent Men United March, ten days I will never forget. From getting lost in Leeds to getting caught up in Storm Katie, walking alongside some incredible people, and crossing the finish line with Russ and my family, I’m looking forward to revisiting an unforgettable week and a half.
“There were highs and lows, tears and triumphs; but being able to raise an amazing amount of awareness about this disease, not to mention more than £365,000, is incredible.
“I would like to thank Sky Sports for their support during the ten days, and to my colleagues who joined me along the way. My feet may have been hurting but that paled into insignificance given what many men and their families experience through prostate cancer.
“You can’t ignore the football results on my show, and you should also not dismiss a disease that kills one man every hour. That’s six in the course of Soccer Saturday every week. One in eight men will get prostate cancer, and for black men the odds are even worse at one in four.
“I’ve met some of those men and heard stories that are heart-breaking but inspiring too. I’ve also met the scientists who pledge to find those answers and I can see how dedicated they are. But to do this we still need to raise vital funds. The walk may be finished but people can still support all the men affected by prostate cancer by visiting menunitedmarch.org and pledging their support. And if you’re still unconvinced, I’d urge people to tune in and watch the documentary and join the fight against this dreadful disease.”
Prostate Cancer UK is the Official Charity Partner of The Football League and twenty-five clubs were represented along the route, through the heartlands of England.
Prostate Cancer UK Chief Executive Angela Culhane, who walked the final marathon, and more than fifty miles during the walk, said: "The blisters may have healed after an incredible ten days, but I’m delighted to say the legacy of Jeff’s Men United March is still very much alive.
“Fundraising has continued and we continue to work with the amazing walkers who joined us from Hartlepool to Wembley. It will be great to revisit the event thanks to this eagerly anticipated documentary. We’re once again grateful to Johnny Phillips and the team from Sky Sports for their support in covering it every step of the way and for their continued help spreading the message about the risks of prostate cancer.
“Ignoring prostate cancer will not beat it. But our Men United March has helped wake men up to the need to take action. Thanks to the money raised, we can fund more ground-breaking research to fight back against the disease. It will also help us provide dedicated support and information to men and their families and make prostate cancer a disease the next generation of men need not fear. We look forward to watching and getting fresh inspiration.”
You can still support Jeff, and find out more about his epic challenge, by visiting menunitedmarch.org.