Prostate Cancer UK Gets £1m from the Bigger 180 Campaign
Paddy Power’s Bigger 180 campaign around the World Darts Championship has raised more than £1 million for Prostate Cancer UK.
Key Facts:
- Prostate Cancer UK is receiving over £1 million from a huge fundraising campaign
- Paddy Power’s sponsorship of the World Darts Championship led to the Bigger 180 event
- Champion Luke Littler himself contributed heavily to the campaign
- Cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy has hailed the success of the fundraising campaign
As the title sponsor of the biggest darts event of the year, Paddy Power pledged that it would donate £1,000 for every 180 that was scored at Alexandra Palace.
Last year’s World Darts Championship had 914 total 180s thrown, with Paddy Power opting to bump up the total donation to a round £1 million.
With the same pledge in place this year, Paddy Power also dished out a further £60,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for each 9-dart finish at the tournament.
Hoy Hails Fundraising
Olympic cycling icon Sir Chris Hoy was on hand to present Luke Littler with the trophy after the teenager became the youngest world champion in darts history.
Sir Chris has been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, and he believes the Paddy Power campaign for Prostate Cancer UK will have a vital impact.
He said: “Reaching the £1m mark is a huge milestone for The BIGGER 180 campaign, and we are now one big step closer to making a long-lasting and meaningful change to men’s health by funding Prostate Cancer UK’s TRANSFORM trial.”
“The TRANSFORM trial aims to find the best way to test men for prostate cancer, so we can be sure which is the most effective method for a nationwide screening programme that could save thousands of lives every year.”
Sir Chris, who won six Olympic golds between 2004 and 2012, recently said his cancer is terminal and he has between two and four years to live.
Champion Littler Tops Charts
Littler fell at the last hurdle a year ago, losing out to Luke Humphries in the final, but this year he could celebrate a thumping 7-3 defeat of Michael van Gerwen in the showpiece.
The 17-year-old threw a dozen 180s in the final alone, personally contributing £76,000 to the Bigger 100 campaign from Paddy Power.
Three-time world champion Van Gerwen was in second place in the rankings having thrown a 180 on 56 occasions during the tournament, with Callan Rydz in third on 43.
Christian Kist and Damon Heta both scored a 9-dart finish at Ally Pally to each contribute a further £60,000 to the Prostate Cancer UK campaign.
Chiara De Biase, the director of health services, equity and improvement for Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Every 180 thrown, every cheer from fans and every pound raised has brought us closer to a future where all men can be screened for prostate cancer.”
“With £1,027,000 raised and thousands of men taking our online Risk Checker, this campaign has delivered a remarkable impact.”
