Johnnie Jackson, first team players and staff climbed over The O2 last month to raise funds for the club's upcoming PSA Testing Day at The Valley on Saturday.
On Saturday, February 19th, the Addicks’ home match at The Valley against Oxford United will serve as the club’s annual Men’s Health Awareness Day.
In order to raise funds for this event, manager Johnnie Jackson and first-team players climbed up the O2.
He said: “I think it’s against my better judgement actually, but I’ve just looked at it and they’re quite excited by the challenge and the sun’s just going down so it should be a lovely view from up there.
“We’re just trying to raise as much money as we can to help subsidise that for the football club."
Head of Player Care Tracey Leaburn, who lost her father to prostate cancer, is leading this intiative and said: “Obviously, offering it to fans, they wouldn’t necessarily think of going to the doctors, but they come to the football.
“So, they can have a quick blood test and then hopefully everything will be ok. But for some they’ll obviously find out that they do have prostate cancer and from the age of 45 and onwards, it’s important to catch it early.”
Forward Jonathan Leko said: “I’m a little bit scared of heights so I don’t know how I’m going be but it’s for a good cause and it’s for prostate cancer so I’m happy to be doing it.”
Defender Jason Pearce used the occasion to urge men to get tested: “With prostate cancer, sometimes you don’t know you’ve got it.
“Once you get to 40 years old, it’s really important that you’re going to have the test just to make sure that you’re ok.”
The PSA testing will take place from 12pm – 3pm in the old casino area in the West Stand. A minimum £10 donation is requested. The tests cost more than £10, so supporters can donate to help raise funds for the test here.
Article by Yannick Stay
Photograph: Dan Hambury
