Prince of Wales Accepts Patron's Role for Gala Concert in Aid of Male Cancer Research

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has agreed to be patron of a fundraising gala concert for research into testicular and prostate cancer.

The Prince joins other patrons including Dame Judi Dench and Sir Cliff Richard in supporting the Music for everyman Gala Concert at the Royal Festival Hall on 7 April. Prime Minister Tony Blair will be including a message of support in the gala brochure.

Proceeds from the concert, which features the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy, will go to The Institute of Cancer Research's everyman campaign to establish the UK's first dedicated male cancer research centre. The everyman campaign was also formed to raise awareness and funding for prostate and testicular cancer, both of which are on the increase in the UK.

The concert is the idea of Tom Croxon, a 28 year old double bass player with the Philharmonia Orchestra who was successfully treated for testicular cancer last year.

Tom Croxon gained the support of Vladimir Ashkenazy and his colleagues at the Philharmonia Orchestra as well as developing an impressive list of patrons.

"During my stay in hospital it became obvious there was a lack of awareness and funding for research into male cancers. To compound the problem men are often too embarrassed to seek medical advice," said Tom Croxon.

Professor Colin Cooper, Development Director of the everyman male urological cancer research centre, said: "We are delighted that His Royal Highness is supporting this concert in aid of the everyman campaign. Together with a growing list of public figures who are kindly lending their names, we are in a much stronger position to raise awareness of the issues and concerns surrounding testicular and prostate cancer."

The Music for everyman Gala Concert also features the acclaimed young Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski. Its other patrons include Dr Miriam Stoppard, Stephen Fry, Maureen Lipman and Richard Briers.

Notes to Editors

0. The incidence of testicular cancer, which primarily affects young men between the ages of 16 and 35, is doubling every twenty years in the UK.
1. Prostate cancer is predicted to overtake both breast and lung cancer to become the most common form of the disease in Britain by 2018.
2. Proceeds from the Music for everyman Gala Concert will be paid to ICR Enterprises Ltd, a company which covenants all its net taxable profits to The Institute of Cancer Research (a charity).
3. The concert is sponsored by The Pentland Group and SAS, the national airline of Scandinavia.