Sunderland heroes Gary Bennett and Mick Harford are leading a charity walk in their home city to raise awareness of prostate cancer and support men living with the disease.
The event, organised by the Sunderland Fans Museum, will take place on Friday, August 15.
Michael Ganley, founder of the Fans Museum, said: “Men can be stubborn when it comes to getting health checks and often have the ‘I will be alright’ mentality, but it’s really important we go to our GP to get tested for prostate cancer.
“You can now get a PSA blood test, rather than any invasive procedure, and so it’s really important men get these checks done.”
Both Bennett and Harford have publicly shared their own prostate cancer diagnoses in a bid to encourage men, particularly those over 50, to get tested.
Bennett said: “When we brought this walk to Sunderland in 2023, I said we wanted it to become an annual event to raise awareness about prostate cancer – and it has.
“It is very important, once men get to 50, to go and get checked out.
“Since I spoke out about my own diagnosis and recovery, many people have got in touch with me to share their own experiences.”
Harford echoed those calls, emphasising the simplicity of the PSA test.
He said: “To men of a certain age, the message is simple – even if you’ve not got any symptoms, go and get checked out.
“The test is just a little pin-prick and it’s so simple.”
Last year’s walk saw around 150 participants, including former Black Cats players such as David Corner, Gordon Armstrong, David Hodgson, Darren Williams, and 1973 Cup-winning captain Bobby Kerr.
This year’s walk begins at 11am from the Fans Museum, with a choice of a three-mile or six-mile route.
The longer route is a circular walk that passes through Whitburn and stops at Minchella’s ice cream shop before returning to the museum.
Mr Ganley said the event is about more than raising awareness; it’s also about creating a supportive space for men to talk.
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He said: “When you are on the walk, shoulder to shoulder with people, it’s a chance for men to open up and have the confidence to both share their own concerns and to support other people.”
While prostate cancer is a male-specific disease, organisers are encouraging women to take part in the walk as well.
Mr Ganley said: “Men developing prostate cancer also obviously has an impact on wives and partners and women have an important role in pushing and encouraging men to get checked.”
