Ron: “I believe walking football saved my life.”

Ron, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2017, believes that if it wasn’t for joining Sky Blues in the Communities (SBitTC) walking football sessions three years ago, he may have never took the important prostate-specific antigen test.

Ron used his diagnosis to help drive forwards SBitTC’s Cancer Support Group (supported by Macmillan Cancer Support), taking on the personal responsibility for encouraging other men to access PSA testing.

His likeable, mild-mannered and positive attitude endeared him both with SBitC staff and participants at sessions and his determination and verve for life whilst undergoing treatment was highly inspirational.

He said: “I believe walking football saved my life; if I hadn’t been playing I wouldn’t have completed a PSA test and then had my treatment. It is this that helps inspire me to support other men who are receiving treatment for Cancer.”

Because of Ron’s investments in the programme, he is now a lead coach and patient advocate on the Cancer Support Group and works tirelessly to raise awareness and inspire those with prostate cancer; the vast majority of SBitTC’s walking footballers have undertaken PSA testing and three have been diagnosed with prostate cancer as a result.

He continued: “It’s fantastic to have an opportunity to give something back to the community and what better way than through the football club I’ve supported all my life.”

 

Nathan Isom, Health Manager at Sky Blues in the Community said: “Ron has been so inspiring and has done all of this whilst undergoing treatment for his Prostate Cancer; his experience of the treatment process enables him to support other men living with cancer.

“We work to positively change lives of local people across Coventry and Warwickshire and, alongside our dedicated team, volunteers like Ron support us to do exactly that.”