Welcome back everyone, this is the story of how one man has taken a personal campaign and has made it into a national success!
When faced with adversity Jason chose to stand up and make a change for the good of everyone, delivering a message to as many people as possible around the importance of Prostate Cancer PSA Testing using the power of Non-League Football clubs.
Lets take a look...
Name – Jason Yeo
Age – 54
Favourite team – Manchester United (ex season ticket holder)
Occupation – Sales Manager
Thing I love about football – Quality Non-League Football
My football pet hate – VAR and clubs that don't respond to our campaign
What inspired you personally to begin this nationwide campaign for Prostate Cancer PSA Testing, and how has your own diagnosis shaped your mission?
Thanks very much for allowing us to use your fantastic forum to promote our campaign. The drive to launch the campaign was simple, I was diagnosed by chance, having had no symptoms and no real reason to have a test. I realised how lucky I was and how I needed to change the course of testing. I started small with A4 posters in supermarkets and pubs, but realised they would only have limited shelf life, so needed to take it up levels to increase opportunities
Your initiative now has over 50 advertising boards across the UK—what does this milestone mean for you and for the future of PSA awareness?
Our initiative is at 100 boards either installed or ordered, and another 98 at time of writing at various stages of development. The milestone for me is incredible, I started with a target of 10 football clubs local to South Devon and it’s just gone mad from there. In over 25 counties across England and Wales. Obviously the more boards, the more opportunities, the more awareness, the more visibility. However as a sales person I can not settle, the goal posts keep moving, and the desire to just keep pushing.
To be fair the job isn’t done until everyone over 50 has been tested.
Football clubs across all levels have supported your campaign. Why do you think football culture is such a powerful platform for spreading this message?
The football family is just incredible- I have 194 football clubs 3 rugby clubs and 1 cricket club. Football was the obvious choice for me, as I understand how the sport works, and had the contacts to get me started. However that was at the beginning- the football family, their generosity and their desire to want to support our campaign, has made me cry on more than 1 occasion. They have exceeded all expectations and gone way beyond so many times. I have met and spoken with so many incredible people. I would love to meet every club but it would take me years
You’ve mentioned clubs offering significantly reduced rates to help your cause. How crucial has this generosity been in enabling the campaign to grow?
We have only been able to work with clubs who have funded their own boards, unless we had a sponsor, but seriously clubs haven’t blinked, they just wanted to be involved, they wanted to push our story. Only 2 clubs wanted money to host, %’s have been incredible.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 8 men—yet awareness of PSA testing is still low. What do you see as the biggest barriers to early testing?
PSA testing is our only route to testing currently, the issue has been it’s not 100% accurate, however it’s all we have. Prostate Cancer UK didn’t really acknowledge the test, calling it a blood test, and obviously they had the ears of the public. The big question is the false positives and the over treatment in some instances. However I would happily have over treatment if it saved 15000 lives for the last # years and future years. The fact states that my PSA test saved my life, we have saved so many lives since, in my own humble opinion why wouldn’t you want to do this? 1 in 8 white males, 1 in 4 black males, tonight in my local pub will be 100+ males- you do the maths? These people have to be tested?
What message do you most want men—and their families—to take away when they see your advertising boards at their local club?
The message is simple: For all males over 50, over 45 with family history PLEASE GO AND GET TESTED!! For wives / partners / children/ parents of men who won’t get tested- please get them tested! My test saved my life! My test and early diagnosis allowed non evasive treatment through my campaign partner Prost8- having cryotherapy. This early non evasive treatment means I am not impotent and incontinent. Alongside Prost8 this is our perfect outcome for those unfortunate to have this #### disease!
As you continue to expand nationwide, what is your biggest challenge: funding, logistics, club participation, or public awareness?
Well unfortunately there are a few! From shocking algorithms through to not enough hours in the day! I have a full time job and a family so finding the time is tough, we are certainly at a 1000+ hours and counting. As I’ve said clubs are amazing, but as a sales person I know if I get the opportunity we convert nearly all. However this doesn’t do the clubs and the people involved justice, as they haven’t taken any persuading, they have literally thrown themselves at our campaign- so mind blowingly impressive. Prostate Cancer will have probably £1.2 million purely from the darts, and they have done some incredible medical work, but a fraction of that money would allow a board at every club in England and Wales, and then the media etc that goes with it… Currently we have had 1 donation of a £1000 which allowed 15 clubs in Cornwall, 2 of £500 etc but we need more, it would speed everything up. However I am so grateful for every thing we have
What would you say to football clubs who are still hesitant or unsure about hosting a board?
It’s difficult to say anything to hesitant clubs, as I am so blown away by those that have, and as I said we started with a target of 10! However what I would say is that Prostate Cancer and PSA testing is probably 1 of the hottest topics in the news currently, and we are sweeping the country riding this wave, and making different noises to the others. I think clubs do benefit from the socials etc, but it tends to be a chairperson or committee member or fan has had a touch with cancer and therefore feel motivated to get involved. 200 clubs in 6 months- they have literally thrown themselves at our campaign. Every club who gets involved will save lives , it’s as simple as that. It’s only Torquay United I’m bitter with as an old season ticket holder, but more importantly my son played for them for 4 years through to the 18’s, and they were the only club in the UK who wanted £1500 to spread our charity message!
Beyond football grounds, are you exploring partnerships with other sports, venues, or community organisations to broaden the campaign’s impact?
I would be silly to change the model excessively as it’s been so successful, however I would always look at any opportunity to further the message, and to speed up visibility and awareness. We have 8 boards in stock and we want to organise a couple of competitions in the new year to create opportunities. I also want supporters to send us photos with the boards. Ground hopping is such a big thing, I would love them to get involved. The more shares , the more photos , the more stories the quicker we hit our new goals!
If you could deliver one message directly to every man in the UK regarding prostate cancer and PSA testing, what would it be?
The message again is simple, PLEASE GO AND GET A PSA TEST- MY PSA TEST SAVED MY LIFE - IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!! Your GP can no longer refuse you a PSA test, thanks to new NICE Guidelines, please work with our campaign to raise awareness- and as we have no way of monitoring our success please let us know.
I am sure you will agree that Jason has done incredible work. It is people like Jason who are bringing such key messages and raising awareness of such an important campaign who deserve all of the plaudits they receive.
A huge well done from me and I am sure anyone reading this will echo those words.
Until next time!
0 Comments