This week I want to talk about the project myself and the guys at my gym have been working on that’s now finally released and ready to go.

You may have seen in the Manx Independent recently or on social media, but I want to talk about our charity ’Kit off for Cancer 2022’ calendar.

The idea for it came a couple of months ago after I had a small health scare.

After having doctors appointments and an ultrasound and going through a stressful couple of weeks waiting for a result - which luckily was good and the news I wanted, I wanted to say ’thank you’ to the team up at hospital by raising some money.

Not only did I want to raise a load of cash, but I wanted to raise as much awareness as possible that young men and women can have cancer scares too.

Me and my brother Joe went and sat down with Derek Peters of Mannin Cancers Support Group and went through the logistics of what we would need to launch a charity calendar.

We were excited to raise money for a charity who keep all the money on island, and see the money raised go towards buying new diagnostic equipment at Noble’s Hospital - something that will without doubt save lives in the future.

All we needed was a group of (very) willing lads, a photographer, and some brains to put the calendar together.

Steve Babb offered to help us and has been absolutely instrumental in getting the calendar over the line.

We really can’t thank him enough for all the work and time he has put in creating it. The shoot itself was a lot of fun, with the lads all seeing a lot more of each other than they ever had - but all for a brilliant cause. I can safely say that we are A LOT closer to each other nowâ?¦

The calendars are on sale at various places across the island including the four main Shoprite stores, The Meadow Gym, CrossFit Braddan, Purite, Ivy Lane, No 52, Salon 3, Pat a Cake Bakery and The Nail Bar.

We’re hoping to hit our target of £10,000 and would love as many people as possible to buy a calendar and raise money for what is an amazing cause.

It’s a perfect Secret Santa or stocking filler.

If I can finish with this - I urge everyone who reads this article to check yourself regularly (yes down there).

If one young person reads this, goes and checks themselves out, or goes and books that prostate exam they’ve been putting off, and catches something early - then we can potentially save a life. Young men and women can get cancer too, and getting yourself checked regularly and finding something before it’s too late WILL save lives. Let’s not make cancer a taboo subject.