'Our pub teams have backed this campaign with real heart' - Marston's says of Prostate Cancer UK fundraiser

Pubs run by Wolverhampton pub company Marston's have raised more than £152,000 for Prostate Cancer UK during England's World Cup run.

More than 1,000 Marston’s venues got in on the fundraising act for the cancer charity during England’s World Cup campaign to highlight a health condition which experts say affects one in eight men.

The campaign encouraged men to ‘Know The Score’ on prostate cancer by using the familiar setting of the local pub to start conversations that can often feel difficult elsewhere. Beer mats, pub team prompts and subtle in-pub signage pointed guests towards Prostate Cancer UK’s online risk checker, which takes 30 seconds to complete.

It came as latest data shows 56,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in England each year, with more than one in five told their disease has spread and cannot be cured. Early-stage prostate cancer often has no symptoms, making awareness and risk-checking important.

Marston’s launched the campaign ahead of Father’s Day and the World Cup, recognising the important role pubs play in bringing people together for moments that matter - from a pint before the match to Sunday lunch with the family.

Neil Campbell, chief operating officer at Marston’s, said: “Our pub teams have backed this campaign with real heart, and I’m incredibly proud of what they and our guests have achieved together. Raising £152,563 for Prostate Cancer UK is a brilliant result, but what matters just as much is the conversation it has helped to start in communities across the country.

“If this campaign has helped even one man check his risk, speak to his GP or talk to someone close to him, then it has done something genuinely worthwhile.”

Lewis Allison, area operations manager at Marston’s, added: “Prostate cancer affects so many families, yet the subject can still feel hard to raise - even with the people closest to us.

“Partnering with Prostate Cancer UK gave us a clear, credible way to turn the energy around the World Cup into something that could genuinely help people. Our pubs are at the heart of their communities, and if a familiar moment over a pint or during the match encourages someone to check their risk or start a conversation, that is a powerful thing.”

The money raised will support Prostate Cancer UK’s work to fund research, provide support and help more men understand their risk. The charity’s online risk checker remains available at www.prostatecanceruk.org/marstonsrisk for anyone who wants to check their risk of prostate cancer.

James Steven, head of partnerships at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Marston’s pubs have delivered an incredible result through the Know the Score campaign, raising more than £150,000 during the World Cup while helping to spark vital conversations about prostate cancer. This fundraising will help Prostate Cancer UK continue funding lifesaving research, supporting men and their families, and driving greater awareness of the most common cancer in the UK.

“Too many men still don’t know their risk of prostate cancer, so campaigns like Know the Score play a crucial role in putting the disease on the agenda. We’re hugely grateful to everyone at Marston’s for getting behind the campaign and using the excitement of the World Cup to encourage people to learn more about their health.”