Former Dundee Utd player Jordan Moore (22) who twice battled skin-cancer during his career says he never once wore sun screen while training outside
Former Dundee United footballer Jordan Moore has made the heart-breaking decision to quit the game after two battles with skin cancer.
Jordan, who is just 22, announced his decision to hang up his boots as he launched the Stand Up To Cancer fundraiser and awareness programme in Scotland.
The young striker, was just 19 when a rapidly growing mole on the right side of his face turned out to be cancerous.
He endured two operations, including 12 hours of surgery in May 2014, at the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow where 80 lymph nodes were removed.
Nerves were severed on one side of his face and Jordan was left with a scar on his neck. Now clear of cancer, Jordan who also had a spell at League of Ireland side Limerick following loan stints playing with Airdrie, Dunfermline and Queen’s Park, says he plans to pursue a new career, possibly as a police officer.
But first he is calling on youngsters to be aware of the amount of time they spend in the sun.
I want to go down the road of helping people instead of concentrating just on football
“I’m so proud to support Stand Up To Cancer and I want to encourage as many people as possible to join me and stand up to this devastating disease,” he said.
“Football has been my whole life so moving on from that now is incredibly tough. I went straight up to Dundee to train full time aged 16 as soon as I left school.
“I trained every day, even on Christmas Day and I’ve never had to think about another job until now. But there is so much more out there that I can do.
“I want to go down the road of helping people instead of concentrating just on football.
“When I was first told I had skin cancer, the doctor asked me if I was always out in the sun or using sunbeds.
“I’ve never used sunbeds but I grew up playing football outside every day wearing no sun screen so my skin must have been exposed to the sun all those years.
“That’s why I now believe it’s vital when kids are out training on football pitches to make sure they’re wearing sun cream to protect their skin.”
Stand Up to Cancer is a joint campaign between Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
This year it is highlighting that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives.
It aims to raise money to fund translational research, which takes developments in the lab and transforms them into brand new tests and treatments for cancer patients in a bid to save more lives, more quickly.
The campaign culminates in a night of live TV hosted by Channel 4 on Friday October 21 featuring celebrities including Davina McCall and Alan Carr.
Above: Jordan as a young footballer
Cancer Research UK is calling on Scots to take a stand and do something to help raise money at work, school or at home - from fancy dress days and sponsored silences to bake sales and open mic nights.
The charity is urging people to get started right now and sign up for a free fundraising pack which includes everything supporters need to spark creative ideas and help beat cancer sooner.
Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland said 85 people are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every day.
“Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Whether it’s you or someone you know, it leaves its mark on us all so the time to act is now.
“We’re on the brink of a revolution in cancer research. Thanks to new treatments, screening and earlier diagnosis, more people are surviving the disease than ever before.
“But we can’t afford to stand still. It’s time to rebel against cancer, raise money and save lives.
“Research is our weapon against this terrible disease and we’re calling on an army of supporters across Scotland to stand up to cancer and show their support.”
For more information and to get involved visit standuptocancer.org.uk.
