JUSTIN SET TO PUT HIS BEST FOOTE FORWARD
GILLINGHAM’S clash with near neighbours Charlton Athletic always carries a degree of spice – and one intrepid Gills fan is preparing for a unique trip to The Valley for Tuesday night’s League One match.
Justin Foote, from Iwade, will walk the 28 miles between the Priestfield Stadium and SE7 all to raise funds and awareness for leading men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK.
Prostate cancer affects one in eight men in the UK and it’s the most common cancer in men, and Justin has seen friends and loved ones affected.
He’s previously joined Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling on his epic March for Men walks, and has supported the charity at matchday collections.
“Back in February 2019 my uncle had his prostate removed and then last May a very close family friend unfortunately passed away after a lengthy battle with the disease,” he said. “The support and care they received was wonderful so I wanted to give something back.
“I then read about Jeff’s March for Men later that year so signed up. I thought it was a 10k at first, but the satisfaction of completing a marathon and walking alongside some people I grew up watching on the television was fantastic.
“The work Prostate Cancer UK do is so important. I’m honoured to wear their ‘Man of Men’ badge and hopefully help them in their quest to save lives.”
To date Justin has raised more than £15,000 for the charity.
He has regularly been walking 3040 miles a week in preparation, and often strolls 15 miles to home games.
He will be walking alongside pal Roy Vesey. The duo will leave Priestfield at 8am and amble through the Medway to Charlton via Gravesend, Dartford, Bexleyheath and Welling. He aims to arrive at The Valley at 5pm.
Foote’s walk comes as Prostate Cancer UK shine a light on the 14,000 men not diagnosed with prostate cancer since the start of the pandemic in tandem with the NHS with the charity urging men to understand their risk of the disease and taking on the 30-second risk checker via https:// prostatecanceruk.org/ risk-checker
Matt Holdstock, sport engagement manager at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Brilliant supporters like Justin do so much to raise the profile of prostate cancer across football, educating people about the risk and also raising key funds to help beat this disease.”
To sponsor Justin, go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/justin-foote