Sports TV host to march on the town

Jeff Stelling has called on Wiganers to lend their support to his campaign against prostate cancer.
Jeff Stelling is getting ready to take on another challengeJeff Stelling is getting ready to take on another challenge
Jeff Stelling is getting ready to take on another challenge

The energetic Sky Sports presenter will walk on Wigan during his March for Men: an epic trek from Exeter to Newcastle, aimed at getting men to get talking about the deadly disease.

Intrepid Jeff will strap on his walking boots for 15 marathons in 15 days, taking in the DW Stadium on the seventh day of his mammoth challenge on June 8, and he will be hoping residents will head to him rather than the polls on election day!

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The 26-mile march from Wigan takes in four big football stadiums, heading to Bolton Wanderers’ Macron Stadium before a stop at Old Trafford, en route to the finish at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium.

It’s a step up from Jeff’s efforts on the same march last year, which saw the popular host complete 10 marathons in 10 days; raising £420,000 on his walk from Hartlepool to Wembley.

He said: “To capture the public imagination, it had to be bigger than last year, so we added another five days to make it a bigger challenge.

“Last year took in the east coast, so this year we really wanted to involve the North West, which is the heartland of football.”

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As well as raising money for Prostate Cancer UK, Jeff wanted the march to be a way to get men talking about what can often be a sensitive topic to broach.

The devoted Hartlepool United fan commented: “It’s always been the way that men are reluctant to go the doctors for any reason. And if it’s a problem below the waist, they’re not going near it!

“We want to get men talking about this, in the bar with their mates, in the stands, wherever. We want to get football clubs talking about it.”

But Jeff will be hoping Latics fans forgive him for his jibe following their FA Cup win in 2013.

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Live on air, Jeff had a lighthearted dig at fans seemingly satisfied with a cup win despite relegation from the Premier League.

He said: “I’m sure Wigan fans know I’m just a football fan like anyone else. They’ll take the mickey, but as long as they support me, that’s fine!”

Jeff will set off from St James Park, Exeter, on June 2.

The 400-mile trip will reach St James’s Park in Newcastle on June 16.

Book your place alongside Jeff and find out more at prostatecanceruk.org/march_for_men.