This Friday night’s Round 18 game at Etihad Stadium between Essendon and St Kilda marks the culmination of the annual Call to Arms campaign.
Call To Arms was developed in Victoria in 2007, as an extension of the Clash For Cancer match, and invites players, administrators and supporters from all sporting codes and clubs across Australia to wear a yellow armband to raise funds to treat, prevent and detect cancers in men.
In 2006, Essendon Football Club players wore yellow armbands in the inaugural Clash For Cancer match against Melbourne Football Club to support team-mate Adam Ramanauskas, who was undergoing intensive treatment for yet another cancer diagnosis. Essendon continues to support this cause along with other sporting organizations including Parramatta Eels, Titans, Broncos, West Tigers, Melbourne Storm, Adelaide United Football Club and Adelaide Crows.
Since 2006 Call To Arms has raised over $700,000 to help prevent and detect cancers in men, find new treatments, as well as support men in need by funding Cancer Council's important cancer research, prevention and support programs.
Essendon Football Club will once again be supporting this cause by incorporating a yellow band into their guernsey for Friday night’s game.
St Kilda Football Club encourages all supporters to get behind this worth cause and support the fight against cancer. Cancer Counsel Victoria volunteers will be selling yellow arm bands at Etihad Stadium before the game and at half time.
Call To Arms is open to all ages, from junior leagues up to professional clubs across all codes. For more information and to register, visit www.calltoarms.com.au or call 1300 65 65 85.
Important statistics:
- An estimated 114,000 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Australia in 2010
- 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85
- Compared to women, Australian men are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer and are more likely to die from the disease.
- Cancer is a leading cause of death in Australia - more than 43,000 people are expected to die from cancer in 2010
- The survival rate for many common cancers has increased by more than 30 per cent in the past two decades
- One in three cancers are preventable
