“Paddy Power’s Donation to Prostate Cancer UK Surpasses £750,000 Mark with 75th 180 Maximum at PDC World Darts Championship”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Paddy Power’s donation to Prostate Cancer UK has exceeded £750,000 after the 75th 180 maximum was thrown at the PDC World Darts Championship. As part of their ‘Big 180’ initiative, the bookmaker pledged to give £1,000 for every maximum hit during the tournament. The current total stands at £751,000 after 16-year-old Luke Littler hit nine maximums during Saturday night’s action. Littler is currently leading Paddy Power’s Ballon d’Art leaderboard with 29 maximums hit so far.

The ‘Big 180’ pledge was supported by Stephen Fry, who encouraged all men to take Prostate Cancer UK’s 30-second online test to assess their risk. Fry, who overcame prostate cancer himself, emphasized the importance of early intervention and surgery in saving lives. The online test has seen a significant increase in usage, with 25,000 men completing it since the announcement on November 30. Of those, 17,500 have been identified as ‘high risk’.

Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker involves three quick questions, including age, family history, and ethnicity, to determine risk factors. The aim of the campaign is to improve diagnosis and treatment for the disease, which claims the lives of over 11,500 men in the UK each year. With no national screening program, early detection is crucial for improving survival rates.

The funds raised by Paddy Power will support lifesaving research for men affected by prostate cancer. The campaign was launched by Dennis ‘The Menace’ Priestly, the winner of the 1993/94 PDC World Darts Championship, who himself was treated for the disease. Paddy Power aims to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker tool and encourage 180,000 men to use it, with a goal of donating £1 million by the end of the tournament in January.

Prostate cancer primarily affects men aged 50 and older, with symptoms including frequent urination, erectile dysfunction, blood in urine, weight loss, and lower back pain. Diagnosis involves urine and blood tests to assess infection and prostate-specific antigen levels. Celebrities such as Stephen Fry and Jools Holland have publicly shared their experiences with prostate cancer, emphasizing the importance of early detection.

Prostate Cancer UK has seen a 17% increase in referrals for the disease in the last year, which they attribute to the ‘Bill Turnbull effect’. The campaign to improve diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer has gained momentum, with initiatives such as The Daily Mail’s End the Needless Prostate Deaths campaign.

Prostate cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the UK, with over 11,800 men losing their lives to the disease annually. Despite its high mortality rate, prostate cancer receives less research funding compared to breast cancer, and treatment options lag behind by at least a decade.

The PDC World Darts Championship hopes to break last year’s record of 901 maximums, enabling Paddy Power to donate £1 million to Prostate Cancer UK. The funds raised will contribute to lifesaving research and support for men affected by the illness..