'Go and get tested, it could save your life' urges Cats legend Gary

Former SAFC captain and Black Cats legend Gary Bennett is encouraging men to get checked ahead of the Fans Museum Prostate Cancer walk.

- by Neil Fatkin

On Friday, August 15, Gary will be joined by former players Mick Harford - who has faced his own prostate cancer battle - David Corner, Gordon Armstrong, Darren Williams and David Hodgson, as well as hundreds of supporters on what has now become an annual walk to raise awareness of the most common cancer in men.

IMPORTANT

The ex-defender, who made more than 350 appearances during a decade with the club, said: "It's very important the likes of myself and Mick use our profile as a platform to get the message out there to go and get checked out.

"Men generally don't like to go to the doctors and think, 'I will be all right', but it's important to get a PSA test and not to leave it too late.

"I didn't have any signs of prostate cancer - sometimes you don't - but my wife encouraged me to go for a test and I discovered I had it.

"One in eight men develop prostate cancer and this rises to one in four people of black ethnicity.

MESSAGE

"This walk is about getting the message out there to go and get tested before it's too late."

This will be the third Prostate Cancer Walk to take place in the city and the second organised by the Fans Museum.

As well as raising vital funds to help combat the disease, a key aim is to "get men talking about prostate cancer".