A WOMAN has organised a charity football match in Beith as she looks to raise awareness of breast cancer in men.
Shannon McDermott has organised the match, which will be played at the Meadowside AstroTurf in Beith on Sunday, May 28 from 1pm. The pitch has kindly been provided for the event.
Her decision to do so has come while a member of her own family is currently battling the disease.
Shannon's father, John, was diagnosed with breast cancer in November last year and has been undergoing treatment for it ever since.
While watching her father living with the disease, Shannon decided that she wanted to do her part to increase awareness of how the life changing cancer can affect men, as well as women.
She said: "Only about 360 men are diagnosed with breast cancer a year in the UK and due to lack of awareness it is very often diagnosed in the later stages.
"My dad was diagnosed with breast cancer in November last year.
"He has since gone through eight chemotherapy sessions and an operation to remove the breast tissue and all of his lymph nodes.
"He is currently waiting to find out what other treatment he will require, this may be more chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
"After seeing him go through this, I decided to arrange a charity football match to raise money for the ward where he received his chemotherapy and to raise awareness for breast cancer in men."
All proceeds raised from the match will be donated to the oncology ward at Vale of Leven Hospital.
And as well as the football match, which will run until 5pm with a food van on site, the day of fundraising will also see all in attendance welcomed back to the Eglinton Inn in Beith.
Here, organisers will hold a raffle/tombola, selling baking from a cake stand and have a prizegiving for the players who took part.
All are welcome to attend and help raise awareness of #breastcancerinmen.
While Shannon is continuing to look for any local buisnesses who would be interested setting up a stall.
To do so, she is asking that a £20 donation is made to the charity and you can keep all profit made on the day.
For more information, you can reach out to Shannon on Facebook - facebook.com/shannon.mcdermott.92.
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