TWENTY four young footballers are planning to take to the pitch for five hours to help raise awareness and vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK. Kate Liptrot reports.

IT'S something not enough men talk about and more needs to be done, a group of sixth formers have decided.

Next week 24 young footballers are aiming to get more people discussing prostate cancer by taking part in an epic five hour fundraising game.

It is the second year students Charlie Gregory and James Fowler have organised the event. The duo first got the idea when Cyril Farrar, another of the players, mentioned it would be fun to do a long football game over the holiday.

James immediately decided it was a good idea and that it would be great if it was for charity. Charlie and James wasted no time and within a week the lads had made all the arrangements.

Deciding to donate the money to Prostate Cancer UK was an easy decision. Charlie said: “We decided it was the best charity to raise money for, because it is a cancer not many men are willing to acknowledge as they think it is an awkward subject."

Daniel Probert, another team member echoed his sentiments, saying: “There is just not enough awareness. We all know about breast cancer and lung cancer which are huge killers, but prostate cancer will impact on the lives of one in eight men nationally and it is the biggest killer of men in the UK."

Last year the boys raised nearly £300 in 2014, but are already well on their way to beating that total and hope to significantly surpass it.

“Now that we have a JustGiving page we are expecting to make much more, so please donate generously and help us smash last year’s total,” said James.

The team are taking to the pitches on Tadcaster Ings from 8am to 4pm on Friday, February 20. .

“Please come down and cheer us on,” said Charlie and together we can score big time and help Prostate Cancer UK to raise the profile of this killer disease.”

- You can donate by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/5hourfootball/