By Paul Camillin

Albion in the Community has teamed up with the Football Foundation, the Department of Health and the Men's Health Forum to use the power of football to help fight cancer amongst men in and around Brighton & Hove.

Ahead of the Game aims to raise awareness through the power of football of the signs, symptoms and risk factors of bowel, lung and prostate cancer amongst men, particularly in those aged 55 years and above, and help those who are hit by one of the three cancers spot symptoms early, increasing their chances of beating the killer disease.

Albion in the Community is one of five club community schemes that are running the campaign and received a cheque for £20,000 from the Football Foundation at yesterday's launch.

The scheme will use this to provide branded beer mats, pocket information booklets which will be distributed at home matches and pubs and social clubs, delivering important information about the signs, symptoms and risk factors of the three cancers and where to seek help.

Stuart Christie, Albion in the Community, said, "Cancer affects everybody in some way during their life. Using the brand of Brighton and Hove Albion we can raise the awareness of the signs and symptoms of these three cancers and we hope in some way the work we are doing can help save lives through early diagnosis.

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of the Football Foundation, added, "Ahead of the Game is a truly innovative project that uses football's appeal to overcome the stigma that prevents many men from presenting themselves early for diagnosis and screening.

"We are delighted to be teaming up with the Department of Health and the Men's Health Forum and look forward to seeing the Ahead of the Game pilot roll out and potentially save lives through early detections that would otherwise have gone unnoticed."

For more information or to download a free information booklet visit www.ifindoubt.info.