Wear, share and donate: join a national day that backs life-saving bowel cancer research
The annual initiative known as Football Shirt Friday invites supporters to wear a favourite shirt as a simple way to back vital bowel cancer research. By taking part you can raise awareness, spark conversations about the signs and symptoms and generate funds for the Bobby Moore Fund at Cancer Research UK.
This campaign blends sport, community and charity into a single, visible action that anyone can join — at home, at work, at school or while out and about. The gesture is designed to be inclusive: people of all ages and levels of football fandom can take part, whether they choose a current kit, a vintage shirt or a team they hold dear.
Joining is intentionally straightforward so that effort goes into raising funds and spreading knowledge rather than logistics. First, register to receive a personalised giving page that friends and colleagues can use to donate and to track progress. Then, pick a day to wear your shirt and post about it on social media to amplify the message.
Finally, ask for donations and explain why the cause matters to you. The three simple actions — sign up, share, donate — form the backbone of the campaign and make it easy for groups such as schools, offices and fan clubs to participate together.
How to take part
Step-by-step guide
To get involved, start by signing up to create your own giving page. That page becomes the hub for any contributions you collect and a place to tell your story. On the chosen day, wear your shirt with pride and use social posts or workplace notices to encourage people to learn about the campaign and the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. When sharing, include facts and links so others can access reliable information. Finally, collect donations via your page or through organised collections, and send any physical items to authorised partners if you are participating in a shirt sale or raffle. This process keeps participation simple while directing money where it will fund research and awareness.
Why your participation matters
Every donation supports laboratory work and clinical studies that aim to improve prevention, detection and treatment of bowel cancer. In the UK there are around 46,600 new bowel cancer cases each year — a figure based on the three-year average cited for 2018, 2019, and 2026. Only through steady investment in science can outcomes improve, from earlier diagnosis to more effective therapies. Wearing a shirt is more than symbolism: it generates conversations that can lead people to recognise worrying symptoms earlier and to seek medical advice, increasing the chance of better outcomes. Public visibility also helps destigmatise discussions about bowel health.
Personal experiences that illustrate impact
Stories from people affected by the disease highlight why awareness and research are vital. For example, one supporter noticed persistent digestive trouble and later observed blood in their stool plus unexplained weight loss, prompting further checks. Those changes convinced them something was wrong and led to a diagnosis. Sharing accounts like this shows how recognition of early warning signs can be lifesaving. Campaigns such as Football Shirt Friday encourage the kind of open talk that makes it easier for others to come forward and get checked, reinforcing the link between awareness and timely medical care.
Where donations go and campaign partners
Donations are channelled into practical research needs. For context, £50 could buy the nutrients required for cells to grow in the lab so scientists can study cancer behaviour. A £100 contribution might purchase restriction enzymes, the molecular tools used to cut DNA strands and investigate genes linked to cancer. At a larger scale, £500 could help buy a gel electrophoresis machine, equipment used to separate and measure DNA fragments, advancing genetic research. These examples show how individual gifts combine to fund the tools and techniques researchers rely on.
The Bobby Moore Fund was established in memory of Bobby Moore OBE, the football captain who led England to the 1966 World Cup and who died from bowel cancer aged 51 in 1993. His widow, Stephanie Moore OBE, founded the fund to increase awareness and to support research led by Cancer Research UK. Campaign partners include specialist organisations that handle shirt donations and sales — for instance, a partner offering vintage shirts that helps raise additional funds. Recent campaigns have raised significant sums (for example, £72,000 was collected in a prior year), and organisers aim to build on that success with each new edition.
If you want to learn more or have questions about organising a local event or joining a school or workplace drive, the campaign team can provide guidance and materials to help you get started. By combining the visibility of football culture with the focus of medical research, Football Shirt Friday creates a simple, powerful way for communities to stand together against bowel cancer.
Data is for the 3-year average between 2018, 2019, and 2026.
