Wolves and West Brom old boys set to join Jeff Stelling for Men United walk

Popular ex-Wolves keeper Matt Murray will be joined by club doctor Matt Perry and Chief Executive Jez Moxey on the 22-mile march from Molineux to St Andrews via the Banks's Stadium, The Hawthorns, and Villa Park.

Former Albion players Ian Hamilton and Daryl Burgess are also taking part.

The cause is a particularly special one for Dr Perry, who has previously been treated for the disease.

"I had a diagnosis of prostate cancer in June, 2014," he explains.

"At the time I told my family, Jez (Moxey), Richard (Skirrow), Kenny (Jackett), Phil (Hayward), some people at the Premier League and one or two others.

"The timing coincided with me leaving medical practice but I didn't want the patients thinking I had left because I had cancer.

"My general view is that doctors should be like referees – the less they are seen and talked about the better!

"As a doctor it is not your job to be the focus, it should be about your patients, and so my view was generally to keep quiet."

Perry kept his diagnosis quiet at the time but after being persuaded to do tomorrow's walk by old friend Matt Murray, he is now choosing to reveal all in a bid to raise awareness for the disease.

"I have been close to Matt for a long time and the first thing he always says is 'how are you, how is the family?'" said Perry.

"When he said it to me I think he realised! So he got the full story which is his knack, although I swore him to secrecy.

"But when he knew more recently that Jeff Stelling was walking for Prostate Cancer UK he mentioned it.

"I have always thought I'd like to do something for New Cross hospital or Prostate Cancer UK, and while this is for the charity, the fundraising contributes to surgical equipment and staff in hospitals so hopefully some of it will find its way to New Cross.

"I spoke to a few friends about whether it was a mistake to tell everybody.

"But I am pretty sure I am cured – the histology after surgery suggested it was cured and blood tests ever since have said the same."

Murray, who spent his entire career at Wolves apart from a few loan spells, explained his own reasons behind doing the walk.

"I have lost someone close to me to prostate cancer, and then the doc at Wolves (Matt Perry) has also suffered having been diagnosed and undergone surgery a couple of years ago," he said.

"I think the world of the Doc – he was so important to all of us players at Wolves and you always thought he was invincible.

"It is also said that one in four Afro-Caribbean men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some stage in their lives.

"So for many reasons this is a cause that is really close to my heart."

Hamilton made 240 appearances and scored 23 goals for Albion between 1992 and 1998.

He said: "It's an honour and a privilege to be involved in this great cause.

"All of us are touched by cancer in some way - with prostate cancer one that many men will relate to. Jeff is a well-known face to many and I hope people will support this cause in one way or another."

Murray will select, at random, two people who have donated to his JustGiving page who will receive a home shirt signed by Wolves captain Danny Batth, and a pair of match-worn goalkeeping gloves signed by Carl Ikeme.

Anyone who donates on the day of the walk itself – Saturday, March 26 – will go into the hat to win a signed pair of Kevin McDonald boots.

Murray's Just Giving page can be found here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Matt-Murray2

Supporters must donate a minimum of £2 could be in line to win one of the special Wolves-related prizes.

For more information on the walk visit www.menunitedmarch.org

To support Dr Perry on the sponsored walk, click here