#MANarama National League campaign raises £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK

• The #MANarama campaign made history as the first time an English Football League rebranded mid-season and raised £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
• In support of the campaign, Vanarama and sister brand Motorama donated £50 to the charity for every van, pickup truck and car it leased. This ‘lease a van, save a man’ initiative is running throughout September and October.
• Vanarama’s cheque for £150,000 was presented to Prostate Cancer UK at the flagship game for Non-League Day between FC Halifax and Chesterfield on October 13th. The presentation party included ultra-marathon hero Kevin Webber, who had just completed seven walking marathons in seven days.

October 2018 – The ground-breaking #MANarama campaign, which saw the fifth and sixth tiers of English Football make football history through a mid-season re-brand, came to an end on Non-League Day and raised a total of £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.

Vanarama, the UK’s leading commercial vehicle leasing company, powered the fundraising drive by sacrificing its naming rights for the National League, together with a vehicle leasing initiative, ‘lease a van save a man’, which ran throughout September and October. A cheque for £150,000 was presented at the flagship BT Sport televised game for Non-League day between FC Halifax and Chesterfield. The presentation took place ahead of the game when ultra-marathon hero Kevin Webber, who had just completed seven walking marathons in seven days, was given a guard of honour by both sets of fans.

£150,000 was raised by Vanarama in just 43 days by donating £50 for every vehicle it leased from the start of September until Non-League day on October 13th. Within that time a staggering 688 men would have died from prostate cancer, highlighting just how important it is that more men are made aware of the most common cancer in men. Prostate Cancer UK became the National League’s first official sponsor for the 2018/19 season and this year’s Non-League Day was given added significance by the presence of Webber.

Diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer in November 2014 and told he could have as little as two years left to live, the remarkable Webber has raised thousands for the charity in a series of epic endurance events and in the build-up to Non-League Day he walked more than 180 miles from Blyth Spartans to FC Halifax Town. In total, he visited 10 National League clubs, hand-delivering unique captains’ armbands to be worn by all MANarama teams on Non-League Day. The bright orange band, which includes the iconic Prostate Cancer UK logo, illustrated the clubs’ united stand against the most common cancer in men.

Also joining the fight was Sky Sports television pundit and Prostate Cancer UK ambassador Jeff Stelling, who posed with one of the armbands alongside Hartlepool United skipper Andrew Davies ahead of their away clash at Leyton Orient.

Andy Alderson, Vanarama CEO and Founder said:

“At Vanarama we’re thrilled with the amount of money we’ve been able to raise for Prostate Cancer UK. The MANarama campaign brought together three great organisations with one main goal – to raise awareness and funds in the fight against the most common cancer in men.

“We’ve managed to get to this total because of our wonderful Vanarama customers, and if you’ve leased a van from us in the last 45 days, you have helped save a man. Hopefully the money donated to Prostate Cancer UK can play a small part in one day beating this truly terrible disease.”

Angela Culhane, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said:

“We’re thrilled with the continued success of Non-League Day, and to pick up a cheque from Vanarama for £150,000 is a wonderful end to this campaign.

“In many ways, there was no better person to collect it on our behalf than the extraordinary Kevin Webber. He’s no stranger to extreme activities, and by embarking on an epic 10-club excursion in the north of the country he’s selflessly spread a powerful and personal message about this deadly disease, utilising the power of football and the communities that bring those clubs to life.

“Kevin is an inspiration and we also thank the National League for making us their first ever charity partners and everyone who has embraced the brilliant MANarama campaign that has caught the imagination so much.

“There is real momentum building now in the fight against this disease, and the vital next step is to work towards a screening programme to catch more prostate cancers early and save more lives. Thanks to this exciting campaign we can move a step closer to making this a reality.”

National League Chief Executive Michael Tattersall, who walked alongside Webber in the final day of his challenge, said:

“We’re delighted at the response of our temporary – and historic – rebranding to the MANarama National League over the past six weeks and it’s wonderful to see so much money and awareness raised to aid the fight against prostate cancer.

“We are proud to have Prostate Cancer UK as our first ever charity partner and look forward to working with them more going forward.

“This deadly disease has no boundaries, so it’s been incredibly inspiring to see Kevin Webber raise so much awareness within many of our membership. He’s a remarkable man doing remarkable things and we will continue to stand alongside him and everyone affected by prostate cancer.”

About Prostate Cancer UK

• Prostate Cancer UK has a simple ambition – to stop men dying from prostate cancer.
• As the number of men diagnosed with prostate cancer continues to rise (making it the most common of all cancers by 2030), now is the time to take control. Through shifting the science over the next 10 years to focus on radical improvements in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and support, we will stop prostate cancer being a killer.

Key Headline Statistics

• More than 11,000 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year – that’s one man every 45 minutes. It’s the third biggest cancer killer.
• It’s the most common cancer in men, with over 400,000 living with and after the disease in the UK.
• Prostate cancer is set to become the most commonly diagnosed cancer of all in the UK by 2030 – which is why we must all act now to curb its power to kill.
• Men over 50, black men and men with a family history of prostate cancer all face a higher than average risk of the disease.
• Prostate cancer treatment often causes devastating, long term side-effects. Incontinence and erectile dysfunction strike at the heart of what it means to be a man.
• Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK’s Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: www.prostatecanceruk.org/. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays. * Visit www.prostatecanceruk.org now to help beat this disease.

About Kevin’s walks

Kevin’s March for Men saw him head from Blyth Spartans to Gateshead on the opening day, before walking from the Gateshead International Stadium to Hartlepool United on Monday, October 8th. The following day he headed from Victoria Park to Spennymoor Town, and then on to Darlington.

He broke through the 100-mile barrier the following day and on Thursday headed to York City and Harrogate Town. His penultimate trek, on Friday, October 12th, took him from Harrogate to Guiseley AFC.

And on Non-League Day he left Nethermoor Park and reached Bradford Park Avenue ahead of their 3pm kick off against Kidderminster Harriers. The final leg took him to The Shay ahead of the teatime clash against Chesterfield.

• Blyth Spartans to Gateshead – Sunday 7th October
• Gateshead to Hartlepool United – Monday 8th October
• Hartlepool United to Spennymoor Town to Darlington – Tuesday 9th October
• Darlington to Easingwold – Wednesday 10th October
• Easingwold to York City to Harrogate Town – Thursday 11th October
• Harrogate Town to Guiseley AFC – Friday 12th October
• Guiseley AFC to Bradford Park Avenue to FC Halifax Town – Saturday 13th October

About Non-League Day

• Non-League Day was set up in 2010 with the aim of boosting attendances at non-league grounds across the country on an international weekend when the country’s top clubs have the week off. The event has become a well-established part of the football calendar and is now in its fifth year.
• Premier League and Championship clubs and their players often promote matches at neighbouring non-league clubs, with many offering special events and incentives to get extra people in.
• About Vanarama * Vanarama, is an award-winning commercial and personal vehicle leasing company established by CEO Andy Alderson in 2004 with a team of just three people – the company now employs over 200 people at its Hemel Hempstead main office.
• The company provides industry-leading customer service and has found investing in that service, and the staff that provide it, to be a successful formula for success.
• That success was reflected in 2015 when Vanarama won the prestigious Lloyds Bank National Business Award for Best Small to Medium Sized Business, an accolade that recognised the company’s commitment to training, customer service and innovation.
• The company has also been confirmed as a Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies To Work For in the UK in 2016, 2017 and 2018, with Andy Alderson being named Best Leader at the 2017 awards ceremony.
• Vanarama is also is a member of the Institute of Customer Service and was awarded a ServiceMark with distinction in 2017.

About The National League

• Established in 1979, the National League consists of 68 clubs in 3 divisions occupying the fifth and sixth tiers of English football.
• The top division promotes two clubs directly each season into the EFL and all 68 clubs participate annually in the FA Cup and FA Trophy. The National League Promotion Final is played annually at Wembley Stadium.
• Clubs within the National League play entertaining and competitive football in front of loyal and passionate fans.