Former Newcastle United striker Les Ferdinand has praised Prostate Cancer UK's partnership with the MOBO Awards 2025.
The music event will be held at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on February 18, with Prostate Cancer UK as the official charity partner of the event.
Ferdinand, who scored 50 goals in 86 appearances for the Magpies, is a long-time supporter of the charity.
He is keen to raise awareness about the disease, especially in black communities, who are more affected than others.
(Image: Prostate Cancer UK)
The former England striker has a personal connection to the cause, having lost his grandfather to prostate cancer and seen several other family members affected.
Ferdinand said: "Prostate cancer is quite prevalent in my family, so I have to know about it and I’m trying to raise awareness about it because there’s a lack of knowledge around it, especially in the black communities which are more affected than others.
"I've been in a privileged position as a footballer, coach, and director of football, but I'm also a son and a father and want to be a role model outside the beautiful game.
"It's up to people like myself to change that philosophy.
"If men want to be macho, they shouldn't walk away from problems; they should face it head on."
Ferdinand is keen to break down barriers within black communities and provide clear and accurate information about the most common cancer in England.
He added: "There’s still a bit of a stigma around it for some black men; the issue is the procedure that some men think they have to go through to test for prostate cancer.
"They think you need an intrusive procedure, when in fact the PSA blood test is a quick and simple test you get free from your GP, and is the best first step to checking for signs of prostate cancer."
The MOBO Awards are the biggest night of the year for black music, culture, and excellence.
By partnering with MOBO, Prostate Cancer UK continues to raise vital awareness of the most common cancer in men and help more black men get a lifesaving earlier diagnosis.
In Yorkshire and the North East, 6,371 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, according to the latest data.
More than one in four of these men are diagnosed when their disease has spread and can't be cured.
Ferdinand, who played under Kevin Keegan in a team dubbed ‘The Entertainers’, said: "This is a great partnership and it's great that it's happening in a brilliant city very close to my heart, Newcastle.
"Linking the MOBOs and Prostate Cancer UK together to spread that awareness and put black men’s risk centre stage is really clever, and hopefully it’s a great night."
Keith Morgan, associate director of black health equity at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "Every man has the right to the best care and treatment for prostate cancer.
"We know that black men are at a higher risk of getting prostate cancer, but recently released data from the National Prostate Cancer Audit shows that black men are also more likely to be diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer.
"One big issue is that prostate cancer guidelines for GPs are hugely outdated.
"In the current guidelines, GPs are told not to start conversations about the pros and cons of PSA testing with men at risk.
"Instead, it’s up to men to know their risk and start the conversation.
"We need this to change, and fast, which is why we’re calling on the Government to overhaul these outdated NHS guidelines and allow GPs to start conversations about the option of PSA testing with men at the highest risk of prostate cancer across the country."
It takes 30 seconds to answer three questions to check your prostate cancer risk.
Do it now by clicking on the following link: prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker.
