Simon Shakeshaft

Simon "Shakey" Shakeshaft(born Simon Andrew Shakeshaft on 25 February 1965 in South Wales, United Kingdom) is a leading campaigner for the awareness raising of testicular cancer in the UK.

Early years

----Educated in Hereford he attended The Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat High School and the Herefordshire College of Technology. After returning to education as a mature student and gained a BSc (Hons) allowing to work as a physiotherapist. He eventually worked as the senior physiotherapist for 15 years in the Football League for Hereford United, Exeter City and Shrewsbury Town as well as the English FA.

Testicular cancer and awareness raising

---- After being diagnosed for the second time, on the 1st May 2002, whilst working for Shrewsbury Town, with Testicular cancer, the first time had been 14 years previously, he became a campaigner for awareness raising of the disease, particularly in the male dominated world of professional football in England. What makes his efforts remarkable is that they were started only weeks after testicular surgery, and during extensive chemotherapy through 2002. His efforts continued during 2003, on behalf of the "Keep Your Eye On The Ball" awareness campaign in football and the Everyman Campaign but had to undergo more treatment for testicular cancer that had metastasized to his lungs. His awareness and fundraising work continued tirelessly throughout his illness and subsequent recouperation.

At the end of 2005 he undertook a "Ground Hop Challenge" attempting to visit all the professional football clubs in the top five leagues of the English game, as well as Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, The Dragons Lair, home to Sky One's Dream Team, imaginary Premiership side, Harchester United and finishing at the new home of Arsenal F.C., the Emirates Stadium. The project actually took him, 13 months to complete, travelling 25,800 miles and visited a total of 120 grounds. The main purpose of the Ground Hop was giving male cancer awareness talks to over 1,000 playing and coaching staff at various clubs and getting this awareness message to over 125,000 supporters through clubs media channels, such as match day programmes and web sites [http://www.keepyoureyeontheball.org/Ground-HopComplete.html] . His achievements were recognised by the PFA/FA when he was presented the individual supporters award of the Keep Your Eye On The Ball Campaign, by former Liverpool and England goalkeeper and current National Goalkeeping Coach Ray Clemence [http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/FACampaigns/Postings/2007/03/ShakyClemence.htm] He later appeared on ITV's GMTV to talk about the Ground Hop experience and support national volunteers [http://www.icr.ac.uk/everyman/news/EverymanVolunteeronGMTV.html]

During 2006 he joined forces with other testicular cancer survivors, including Philly Morris and the established checkemlads.com [http://www.checkemlads.com] awareness web site, to continue and expand the awareness drive to other sports, the media/television and the music industry. Having suffered further setbacks in his health battles in March 2005 and more recently and significantly, July 2007- with the diagnosis of another cancer, Chronic lymphocytic leukemia!!- he continues to this day giving awareness talks all over the country, especially targeting football clubs, county associations and other football organisations. During the summer of 2008 he along with, Philly Morris and their friend and another testicular cancer survivor Mike Riley MBE were rewarded with their awareness raising efforts when [http://www.checkemlads.com checkemlads] became a registered charity, giving so much more recognition and credibility to the crusade of these three men.

In 2006 he added "television actor" to his C.V, but unable to get away from the world of football, even if imaginary, when he appeared in the cult Sky One drama Dream Team's 10th series as the team physiotherapist, unsuprisingly playing himself, or better known by his nickname Shakey. Again he played a physiotherapist in the Kamal directed Bollywood 2007 football movie "Dhan Dhana Goal" as well as appearing as an extra in a number of other productions, including the BBC drama Silent Witness. When working in behind the camera rather than in front of it he is credit with providing physiotherapy cover for cast members and models, with credits including Nike football adverts and the box office block buster Mamma Mia! The Movie but missed out on the part in the Gorilla (Cadbury) advert to seasoned primate actor Garon Michael

He is the Managing Director of e-commerce business [http://www.footballmatchshirts.co.uk Heroes & Legends] and now recognised in the field of sports memorabilia as a leading researcher and authenticator of genuine match worn players football shirts. In 2008 along with former Dream Team cast members Darren "Tyson" White and Alex Sexy Lawler, he helped form Forward Dash Limited, a company that intends to raise money for local charitable causes, playing Charity football matches around the UK with a team of other former Harchester United cast members.

Married to Tracey, they have one daughter Georgia and live in Hertfordshire, England.

External links

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[http://www.checkemlads.com checkemlads]
[http://www.footballmatchshirts.co.uk Your Heroes & Legends]
[http://www.icr.ac.uk/everyman/testicular/help/real-life-stories.html Everyman]
[http://www.footballshirtculture.com/20070924659/kit-design/exclusive-q-and-a-with-joma-uk.html FootballShirtCulture]
[http://www.keepyoureyeontheball.org/celebrity_support/ray_clemence.htm Keep Your Eye On The Ball]