Cricketers from Deloitte and Appleby batted it out to raise £500 for local male cancer charity, Male Uprising Guernsey.
This is the third year the cricket fundraiser has been organised by the two businesses and collectively the event has raised over £1,500.
“The two companies have supported MUG since the charity’s launch and this cricket match has become an annual event. It was a hotly contested game but for the third year running Appleby has taken the MUG Ashes,” said Trevor Kelham, founder of Male Uprising Guernsey.
The 20:20 match saw Appleby score 132 runs from seven wickets with Dave Mahoney contributing 36 not out. Deloitte were all out for 96, despite Dave Hooper’s best efforts, which saw him named man of the match.
‘The Deloitte team was confident after 15 overs, but the match slipped away from us after some poor bowling,’ commented Dan Collins from Deloitte.
Dan, who is also a MUG Council Member, continued: ‘Full credit to Appleby for posting a respectable score and then doing well in the field, including a fine catch by Chet Pohl to dismiss Dave Hooper. As always the match was played in good spirits and we are grateful to the Guernsey Cricket Board for their support and the excellent facilities at the KGV playing fields.’
As well as match fees, Deloitte stepped up their fundraising with a mufti day and receptionist Abigail Darling added to the total by making dozens of cupcakes which quickly sold out. Appleby also arranged a cricket-themed sweepstake to guess the combined score for the evening’s match.
John Clacy, Partner in charge of Deloitte’s Guernsey office, commented: ‘Deloitte has a number of local and national charity partners and we are delighted to continue our support of MUG and be part of its efforts in raising awareness of male cancers.’
Gavin Ferguson, Managing Partner for Appleby in Guernsey and MUG Council Member, said: “MUG’s three-year commitment to financially support Guernsey’s first male cancer specialist nurse means that every penny counts and it’s great to see so many people from both companies get involved to fundraise.”
Owen Cole, MSG Consultant Urologist and MUG Council Member, spoke to the crowd about the importance of getting any health niggles checked out, explaining that fast diagnosis improves treatment options and health outcomes. He presented the winners with the MUG Ashes and commented: “MUG is very grateful to both companies for their ongoing support of the charity. The association with sport is an important one and tonight was just as much about spreading the ‘get checked’ message as it was about fundraising. To have this event laid on for a third year running is impressive and we thank everyone for their involvement.”
The focus of Male Uprising Guernsey (MUG) is to increase awareness and promote education around cancers which affect men, specifically testicular, prostate and bowel cancers.
MUG aims to get men, whatever their age, to be more confident, outgoing and questioning of their medical symptoms. Most importantly, the charity wants to encourage men to seek medical advice and assistance at the earliest opportunity – as procrastination or delays can have serious consequences on treatment options and health outcomes.
As well as education and awareness activities, the award-winning charity has made a three-year commitment to financially support Guernsey’s first male cancer specialist nurse. The role of the uro-oncology nurse includes helping male urological patients who are undergoing treatment for bladder, prostate and kidney cancers. Patients have access to the specialist nurse through the diagnosis, treatment and recovery stages of their cancer care.