Chiefs back 'Know the Score'

By Mark Stevens
12/4/17

Players from Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club have thrown their support behind the hugely impressive 'Know The Score' campaign, which helps to raise awareness of Bowel Cancer.

This April players, coaches, managers and personalities from the world of professional sport will be showing their support for the seventh year of the campaign.

The main aim is to end the perception that bowel cancer is an old person’s illness - in fact it affects men and women of any age and the key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. Thousands of ‘Star of Hope’ badges will be distributed to support the campaign.

The campaign is the brainchild of former Millwall, Charlton and QPR goalkeeper Nicky Johns, whose son Stephen died of bowel cancer at the age of 26.

More locally, though, Bowel Cancer Awareness has been highlighted by the outstanding work of the Adam Stansfield Foundation. The 2017 campaign marks seven years since the popular former Exeter, Yeovil and Hereford striker died from bowel cancer at the age of 31.

Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer, with 41,000 new cases each year. It’s also the second biggest cause of cancer death. Every 90 minutes three people die of the disease. That’s 44 people each day - the equivalent to four football teams - but it needn’t be that way.

Exeter Chiefs player Haydn Thomas said: "Bowel cancer can affect anyone at any age so it's really important everyone is aware of the symptoms as early as possible.”

To find out more visit www.knowthescore.org.uk or follow @KnowTheScoreUK on Twitter.