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    I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2018 and credit Tottenham coach and Charlton legend for saving my life

    PROSTATE CANCER UK advocate Chris Powell is the reason Southend United fan Keith Smith believes he is still alive.Back in 2018, the Shrimpers fan was diagnosed with prostate cancer by his GP.
    Chris Powell is an advocate for Prostate Cancer UKCredit: Getty

    Lucky for Smith, it was caught early.
    The football supporter had heard Powell, who was manager of Southend at that point, champion the renowned charity.
    So, Smith took on the now Tottenham coach’s advice and went for a check up.
    Not only was prostate cancer detected, a small tumour on his kidney was also found.
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    Emotionally connected to Powell, Keith has stayed in touch with the Charlton legend.
    The pair were recently reunited at an U21 fixture between Spurs and Brighton at Hotspur Way.
    Keith told Tottenham Hotspur’s website: “Since I was diagnosed with cancer back in 2018, I’ve felt this kindred spirit with Chris.”
    “I’ve got no doubt in my mind that if it wasn’t for Chris, I wouldn’t be standing here today, it’s a simple as that. I’ll be eternally grateful to him, he’s a top guy as everyone already knows and it’s just nice to catch up again.
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    “I’ve followed his career, seen him on the England bench, here at Spurs as well, so to be here today with him at the Training Centre is a real honour. The facilities here are brilliant, absolutely unbelievable, out of this world.
    “I never realised, especially supporting a lower league team, how different it could be – everything is new, crisp, the people are so nice, the staff are so friendly… it’s absolutely fantastic and anyone who works for the club or plays for the club here is a very lucky person.
    “My message now is the same as the one Chris gave me – it’s very important that awareness of prostate cancer is raised among the general public and to encourage people to get checked.
    “My mantra has always been ‘a blood test won’t kill you, but prostate cancer can’ so everyone has that incentive to go. If you’ve previously had any cases of prostate cancer in your family, go and get yourself checked as well so that we can help to beat this disease.”
    Today, Keith is an ambassador for Prostate Cancer UK along with Powell.
    And they support the ‘Prostate FC’ initiative, which aims to raise awareness of the risk factors, fund research and save lives in every football club across the UK.
    Powell said: “It means so much to me that I’ve got to know someone who was suffering from prostate cancer, who heard my message and is a survivor. Sometimes I don’t realise how big that is, to have helped save someone.
    “If it wasn’t for my work and involvement with Prostate Cancer UK, we may have lost Keith but thankfully he’s still here to enjoy his life. It’s great that we’re still in touch – he loves football, he loves Southend, but I think I’ve got us another Spurs fan now!
    “He and his wife were my guests to watch an Under-21 game and I know they couldn’t believe what the club is like in terms of the Training Centre, how it works and how great everyone here is. I just wanted to spend some time with him, as we’re both big ambassadors for the cause now.
    “What I would say to any Spurs fan is to be aware of the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, which include age, ethnicity and family risk.
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    “Fans can go on the Prostate Cancer UK website where there is so much information, including a brilliant 30-second risk checker which may save your life.
    “More importantly tell your partner, your uncle, your brother and talk to your GP if you are worried. I get myself checked on my birthday every year – that’s my gift to myself – so that’s the way I remember.”
    Powell was a Charlton legend as a playerCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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    Charlton boss Dean Holden retching for the bucket as he faces Bushtucker trial in brilliant prostate cancer fundraiser

    DEAN HOLDEN found himself puking as he played the part of I’m A Football Manager … Get Me Out Of Here.The Charlton boss had his League One team and backroom staff cheering him on as he downed a disgusting glass of blended mealworms.
    Dean Holden starts downing a glass of blended mealworms
    But Dean Holden cannot keep them down for long as he pukes into a bucket
    But then they all gasped with astonishment as their gaffer retched before regurgitating the foul-smelling concoction into a nearby bucket. 
    Game-for-a-laugh Holden joined the club’s head of first-team player-care Tracey Leaburn in a Bushtucker trial inside their training ground canteen.
    They were raising money for the club to provide free prostate cancer testing for Charlton and Fleetwood fans ahead of their league clash at The Valley on Saturday.
    It is done on behalf of the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal with close to 500 booked in for the hassle-free five-minute test.
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    On the menu — dubbed the Meal Squeal — were fish eyes, roasted crickets, pig’s brains, fruit beetle bugs, morio worms and, most disgusting of all, a pig’s anus!
    And after finishing their revolting lunch, the pair had to handle and walk around the canteen with live snakes. More

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    Sausage maker dress goalkeeper as giant cheese grater to fight prostate cancer

    GOALIE Johnny Coombs is shredding this season — but it’s all for the grater good.
    His non-league side Bedale AFC are wearing kit sponsored by sausage maker Heck Food, which is raising cash to fight prostate cancer.

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    Keeper Johnny Coombs and his non-league side Bedale AFC are wearing kit sponsored by sausage maker Heck Food, which is raising cash to fight prostate cancerCredit: GARY MORRISROE
    The firm will be dressing Johnny, 39, as a giant cheese grater to promote its new range of “Veg with Edge” bangers.
    His team-mates will wear a carrot-print kit.
    The North Yorks team wore a sausage kit in 2017 voted worst ever by fans.
    In 2018 it was hot dogs and 2019 it was bangers and mash.

    Heck’s co-founder Andrew Keeble said: “We’ve had some fun along the way.
    “What started as an innocuous sausage kit a few years ago has snowballed into this massive, almost unstoppable force that shows no sign of letting up.

    “Every time we think that’s it, we get another idea for a new kit and away we go again.
    “However, there is a very serious side to all of this because Heck and Bedale AFC continue to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer.”

    The disease kills 11,000 men a year, one every 45 minutes.

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    Heck’s co-founder said the firm and Bedale AFC will ‘continue to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer’Credit: GARY MORRISROE

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    Heck Food will be dressing Johnny as a giant cheese grater to promote its new range of ‘Veg with Edge’ sausagesCredit: GARY MORRISROE

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    The North Yorks team wore a sausage kit in 2017 which was voted the worst ever by footie fansCredit: North News and Pictures

    Jimmy Tarbuck talks candidly about his prostate cancer diagnosis on Good Morning Britain
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