TV Presenter, Jeff Stelling popped in Paradise today along with former Celt, Charlie Nicholas and picked up a cheque for £5,000 from Celtic FC Foundation via current first-team player, Mikey Johnston. Jeff is currently raising money for Prostate Cancer UK by walking FOUR marathons in FOUR nations in FOUR days for the one cause, with his March For Men.
Having already completed 25 walking marathons, which raised nearly £800,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, Jeff is back for another life-saving journey just now to smash a £1million target to help beat prostate cancer – a disease that kills one man every 45 minutes in the UK.
As well as Celtic Park, today’s jaunt took in Hampden, Ibrox, New Douglas Park and Fir Park while on Friday he’s across to Ireland to visit Crusaders, Cliftonville, Glentoran and Windsor Park.
The following day he’s off to Wales and Newport County, Cardiff City and the Principality Stadium before finishing off in London with West Ham, Charlton, Millwall, Arsenal and Spurs.
He told Celtic TV: “If you look around at this fantastic stadium, most of these seats are going to be filled by men. And one man in eight, in the UK will get prostate cancer at some stage during their life.
“So think of the numbers of men who are filling these seats, and imagine one in eight will get prostate cancer, and one man in the UK will die from prostate cancer every 45 minutes that’s played on this pitch. That’s why we do it, because the figures are startling and scary.”
Jeff is delighted with the backing has had, and added: “It’s absolutely brilliant. There are some inspirational characters out there as well. People who are living with, and in some cases, and they won’t mind me saying it, dying from prostate cancer, and they’re with us and walking
“There are a lot of celebrities – Charlie Nicholas is here and a whole host of people which has been brilliant. And that’s been the case throughout the four days of the walk. So we’ve got great public support, great support from the walks and great support from the celebrities.
“And also the football clubs, so thank you to Celtic for their fantastic donation as we really, really appreciate it.
“This is day one, we finish at Motherwell tonight and then we’re on the last flight to Belfast, do 26 miles, then we get the last flight to Cardiff for 26 miles in Wales, and then on to London on Sunday, starting at West Ham and finishing at Tottenham.”
Former Celt, Charlie Nicholas added: “The cause has always been about awareness rather than just the money. We like the money so we will welcome everything, but this is about awareness.
“I was particularly proud because I’m a Glasgow boy, so I’ve done two in England with Jeff, and when he started talking about doing one in Scotland, I thought. ‘If it’s Glasgow, that’s perfect!’
“I was absolutely thrilled and Glasgow’s always been a major part of my life – this stadium’s been a major part of my life, but I just like the awareness scenario that everybody talks about. Now, younger guys are starting to be able to talk about it with no embarrassment or worries about it – just facing the music.
“And it’s a reality of where we are. I think’s it’s very helpful and it’s a treat to see guys younger than me talking about and not being scared of doing that.”
You can sponsor Jeff Stelling on his March For Men HERE
