17/06/2026
Crewe Alexandra in the Community
Football Clubs Unite to Tackle Cancer
Four Football Clubs across Cheshire and Merseyside are launching an innovative programme designed to support people living with cancer.
At a time when individuals are at their most vulnerable, the Versus Cancer programme will provide physical, mental and emotional support.
Following the success of the programme across Lancashire, the EFL has teamed up with Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance (CMCA) and local hospital Trusts to roll the programme across four football club charities - Crewe Alexandra, Tranmere Rovers, Everton and Chester.
Versus Cancer offers both free ‘prehabilitation’ and ‘rehabilitation’ sessions to support adults in getting into the best possible condition when preparing for and recovering from cancer surgery or treatment. This flagship initiative combines tailored exercise, along with hints and tips for leading a healthier lifestyle, all in a safe, supportive and welcoming environment, with social and emotional support, helping to improve both physical and mental wellbeing.
Each weekly session combines physical activity with social connection, mental and emotional well-being support, ensuring a holistic approach to pre-treatment preparation and recovery. Participants enjoy coffee and conversation, giving them an opportunity to connect with others and share experiences in a non-clinical and more relaxing environment.
Versus Cancer stands as a powerful reminder that facing cancer is not only a physical battle, but an emotional one too. By combining expert guidance with genuine human connection, the programme aims to make a lasting difference - helping people not only to cope, but to maximise recovery, to believe, and ultimately, to live well.
Debbie Cook, Director of Community at the EFL, commented:
“Versus Cancer is a great example of the National Cancer Plan coming to life and shows the important role that Football Club charities can play in supporting. A big part of the programme is that it takes place away from a clinical setting - at a Football Club, which is a trusted organisation within the local community and naturally has a very different feel to a hospital. Versus Cancer is more than just exercise; for many, it is a lifeline, reducing isolation by bringing together like-minded individuals who share similar experiences and truly understand what each other is going through.
We are delighted to be working with CMCA on this project to help people at a time when they need our support most.”
CMCA is an NHS organisation that improves cancer services, care and outcomes through partnerships across the region.
Mr Declan Dunne, Pancreatic Cancer Surgeon and Lead for Prehabilitation at CMCA, said:
“Prehabilitation and rehabilitation empower patients to make a positive difference to their cancer journey and should be a key part of their care. I am delighted that we have this partnership with the EFL and local football clubs to bring these benefits to more patients.”
CMCA Managing Director Jon Hayes added:
“We are incredibly grateful to the EFL and the individual clubs for opening their facilities to cancer patients. I am sure Versus Cancer will prove to be a very successful partnership and improve the quality of life for people at various stages of their treatment and care.”
Programme delivery is planned to begin in June 2026 and will run for 12 months. Patients aged 18 and over will be able to self-refer onto sessions, and oncologists, surgeons, clinical nurse specialists, multi-disciplinary teams, clinical reference groups and Macmillan staff will also have access to all relevant information regarding sessions taking place at local clubs to signpost relevant patients into the programme.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance is responsible for cancer performance, quality and outcomes across Cheshire and Merseyside, bringing together organisations, patients and others affected by cancer to:
• Plan for and lead delivery of The National Cancer Plan for England (The National Cancer Plan for England: delivering world class cancer care) ambitions for cancer, ensuring variation in outcomes is addressed and that improvements are made across whole pathways from prevention and diagnosis through to treatment and support for people living with cancer
• Drive improvements in patients’ experience of the care and treatment they receive
• Provide oversight and coordination to support the delivery of the waiting times standards for cancer
We work closely with cancer services and people affected by cancer to achieve:
• Better Cancer Services by providing access to expertise and learning; leading change in care pathways, and in piloting new scientific innovations
• Better Cancer Care by sharing and building on good patient experience practice
• Better Cancer Outcomes by increasing early detection, early diagnosis; enabling early access to cancer services and pathways, and ensuring cancer patients have access to the support they need to live long, fulfilling lives beyond cancer
Our ambition is to:
• Increase the number of people each year who will survive for five years or more following their cancer diagnosis
• Work towards three in four cancers (75%) being diagnosed at an early stage, where they are more likely to be treatable and continue to live a good quality of life following cancer.
To book, please go through the QR Code by using your phone and put your camera over the QR Code. This will take you to the booking page any problems, email Melvin Bates [email protected]
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