Ex-West Ham United striker Carlton Cole has spoken passionately about his support for the DT38 charity organisation on a visit to Perth this week.
Cole travelled to HBF Park on Wednesday and spent some time at the statue erected in honour of Dylan Tombides, the Perth product and West Ham player who passed away from testicular cancer at the age of just 20 in 2014.
“It’s so good that he [Tombides] has been recognised for what he achieved not just in football – he was a great footballer, had loads of potential, had the world at his feet – but for the person he was and the amount of people he touched and inspired,” said Cole.
“It’s an inspiration to everybody at West Ham and I’m so glad that I go to see this in the flesh because he deserves this, his family deserves this. They’re great people and I’m a big ambassador of DT38 and whenever I’m called upon, I’m there.”
Cancer Australia estimates that there were 964 new cases of testicular cancer amongst males in Australia last year, with 11% resulting in death.
“The awareness just has to be there,” said Cole. “What DT38 has done for a lot of people is probably helped them to have a little check in the showers, find out how to do it as well.
“Go on the website for DT38, it’s got all the steps to check yourself because you don’t know what’s lingering or lurking, you don’t know what’s happening to your body until you take all the precautions.”
In 2020, DT38 launched its Check 1-Two campaign in the hope of encouraging more men to catch any potential signs of cancer as early as possible.
“Our mission is to raise awareness and change the stigma associated around men’s health issues, with a focus on testicular cancer,” said Donna Giuffre, DT38’s Head of Media and Operations.
“The West Ham family have been our biggest supporters since Dylan’s passing. The work they do throughout the year and, in particular, at the yearly awareness match they hold, is above and beyond.
“To see them come to Australia further cements our relationship and partnership. They honour Dylan’s legacy, and that is so important for us as a charity.”
Perth Glory’s Jack Clisby, also a DT38 ambassador, believes that his side’s game against West Ham will act as an important platform to promote the organisation’s hard work.
“Dylan has a special connection between West Ham and Perth and it’s a great foundation which is going to raise a lot of awareness around the game,” he said.
“It’s something that is very important to people in the Perth region and around the world.”
The annual DT38 Perth Glory awareness match will take place on April 29 when the A-Leagues Men’s side plays host to Western United at HBF Park.
For more information on DT38, check out the website here.
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