Take on the ultimate challenge and celebrate 50 years of World Cup glory with 'Football on Everest' - Cancer Research UK

To celebrate the life of legendary England footballer Bobby Moore and to mark 50 years since England won the FIFA World Cup, a 44-strong team of fundraisers will be invited to take on the World’s Highest Ever Football Match at Mount Everest base camp.

Applications are now open to all until April 13^th 2015, with the selected team setting off on March 31^st2016 on their trip of a lifetime. The chosen players will embark on a three week trek to 5,164 metres before playing the first ever football match on Mount Everest at the Gorak Shep Plateau, on what would have been Bobby’s birthday, April 12^th 2016.

“We have made enormous progress in the last 50 years but bowel cancer still kills 44 people per day in the UK. ‘Football on Everest’ will enable the Bobby Moore Fund to raise additional funds and awareness which will help beat this dreadful disease sooner.” – Stephanie Moore MBE, founder of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK

Taking place during Bowel Cancer Awareness month to raise money for vital research into this disease, the match will be played at 5,164m above sea level, an altitude at which the body absorbs 50% less oxygen than normal. Participants will be carefully selected and undergo a strict training programme to ensure optimum levels of fitness for the task.

David Seaman, former England and Arsenal footballer, said: ‘’I have the ultimate respect for anyone taking part in such physically demanding trip. A huge thanks to everyone who signs up to this incredible challenge, to help support a charity so close to my heart .’’

Stephanie Moore MBE, founder of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, said: “This expedition will be the 50th anniversary celebration of the unforgettable achievement of 1966. Winning the FIFA World Cup touched so many lives and inspired a generation to get involved in football.

We have made enormous progress in the last 50 years but bowel cancer still kills 44 people per day in the UK, equivalent to four football teams. ‘Football on Everest’ will enable the Bobby Moore Fund to raise additional funds and awareness which will help beat this dreadful disease sooner.”

Potential participants should express their interest before April 13^ththrough the Bobby Moore Fund website, www.bobbymoorefund.org/everest. There will be an open evening held on April 14^th 2015 at Cancer Research UK’s London office to ask questions and find out more about the trip.

Successful applicants will be notified by the end of June and asked to cover the £3,000 cost of the trip and raise a minimum of £3,000 which will go towards bowel cancer research.

ENDS

For further press information contact the Cancer Research UK press office press.office@cancer.org.uk / 0203 469 8315, or for out of hours, 07050 264059

About the Bobby Moore Fund

The Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK raises vital funds for research into bowel cancer and increases public awareness of the disease
The Bobby Moore Fund was set up by Stephanie Moore MBE in memory of her husband, footballer Bobby Moore, after his death from the disease in 1993, at just 51
For more information visit www.bobbymoorefund.org/everest
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/officialbobbymoorefund

About Cancer Research UK

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research
Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer has helped save millions of lives
Cancer Research UK receives no government funding for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating cancer relies on every pound donated
Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of the progress that has already seen survival rates in the UK double in the last forty years.
Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses
Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK’s vision is to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.

For further information about Cancer Research UK’s work or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1861 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook