After a vote of more than 65,000 fans and staff, the Prostate Cancer Charity has become the Football League's official charity partner for 2012/13.
The Football League opened bids to become charity partner in October. The Prostate Cancer Charity will now benefit from awareness-raising across all 72 football league clubs and communities as well as a dedicated fundraising week in March 2013. Full-page adverts will also be placed in one issue of each of its member clubs' programmes, and in the Carling Cup Final, Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final and three Play-Off Final programmes.
Marie Curie Cancer Care raised around £350,000 as partner in 2010/11 and Help for Heroes won the the bid for 2009/10 to raise £500,000. Help the Hospices is the current charity partner.
Six charities were shortlisted for the 2012/13 competition before the public vote was cast: Anthony Nolan, British Heart Foundation, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, NSPCC, the Prostate Cancer Charity and St John Ambulance.
Ex-footballer - turned broadcaster, Mark Bright, supported the winning bid. He says: "This is a massive result for the Prostate Cancer Charity - I'm so proud to be a committed ambassador. This disease kills one man every hour, but not enough people know about it. For so many people - prostate cancer is just not on their radar.
"This partnership means so much because we will be reaching the men on the terraces with a message we need to drive home. It will also raise vital funds, so the charity can reach more men with its specialist nurses, information and support. 2012 is such a big year for everyone connected with the Prostate Cancer Charity. Get in!"
The Prostate Cancer Charity is also one of two official charity partners for the 2012 Virgin London Marathon, in partnership with Breast Cancer Care. In 2009 the charity outlined its plans to treble its income over five years.
