EX rugby star Ugo Monye left Strictly viewers in tears when he revealed he attended his dad’s funeral simply hours earlier than his first dance within the present.
He devoted his first whirl with pro-dancer Oti Mabuse to his dad Theophilus, 81, who died of prostate most cancers three weeks earlier than the 2021 contest began.
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The previous rugby union professional and pundit in the present day reveals that he had no thought his father was at dying’s door after carers stored his sickness from the household.
The dad-of-two informed The Solar how the 81-year-old’s care workforce in Nigeria didn’t need to fear the household through the Covid pandemic.
Ugo, 41, stated: “His carer knew however I’m undecided how a lot info he was given about how sick he was.
“They didn’t go it on by concern and fear. It’s superb what selections folks make once they need to try to consolation folks and preserve them comfortable.”
That call, mixed with the pandemic, meant Ugo was unable to say goodbye to grease businessman Theophilus earlier than he died.
Now, forward of an emotional Father’s Day, the TNT Sports activities host is elevating consciousness of prostate most cancers signs and launching a brand new marketing campaign encouraging early prognosis of the illness.
He stated: “Dad lived in Nigeria after splitting from my mum greater than 15 years in the past and I’d not seen him for a number of years.
“It’s like something although, in terms of the top, you do lots of reflecting, deep considering and introspection about all the things, what may have been.
“Sadly, typically you don’t get an opportunity to do issues in another way.”
Ugo stated he was shocked after listening to his father, who suffered from numerous well being illnesses, had died whereas at a buddy’s e book lunch in early September 2021.
A telephone name from one in all his two brothers left him reeling however he didn’t need to go away the venue in case folks began asking questions.
He began coaching for Strictly and had his first dance hours after watching Theophilus’ funeral on Zoom resulting from restrictions on journey to Nigeria.
Ugo stated: “I can’t present a coherent reply on how I acquired by that (Strictly) evening.
“I at all times knew the day could be a tough one.
“Strictly was a distraction throughout that point and a part of me was grateful for that distraction and launch.”
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Dance dedication
On the night of the present, Ugo devoted his first dance with Oti – a Samba to the monitor Iko Iko (My Bestie) by Justin Wellington ft. Small Jam – to his father.
He informed viewers: “So my dad handed away a few weeks in the past, prostate most cancers, and we had his funeral this morning.
“Through the funeral, they spoke about in the present day being a day of celebration – and that is precisely how in the present day feels.
“So there is no higher manner of celebrating him by dancing. Tonight feels actually particular.”
The duo, who wore vibrant pink outfits, kicked off their high-energy efficiency by banging on drums, which had been on fireplace.
After the dance, judges commend Ugo for “giving it his all” and followers labelled him “courageous”.
What are the signs of prostate most cancers?
Signs of prostate most cancers can embody:
needing to pee extra continuously, typically through the evening
needing to hurry to the bathroom
issue in beginning to pee (hesitancy)
straining or taking a very long time whereas peeing
weak movement
feeling that your bladder has not emptied absolutely
blood in urine or blood in semen
Supply: NHS
‘Cocktail of feelings’
Theophilus had been sick for about six months previous to his dying from prostate most cancers.
“It was a large shock, an enormous quantity of grief,” Ugo stated about his father’s passing.
“It is simply the frustration as properly as a result of prostate most cancers is so treatable, I want my dad had been made conscious or maybe been extra proactive in understanding what he had.
“With heaps of people that contract prostate most cancers, you may get remedy which may in the end save their lives.
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“There’s a cocktail of feelings. Any loss is a tragic loss however if you get a way it may have been prevented, that is one thing that simply lingers. It simply lingers.”
Ugo is now captivated with early detection of the illness, which is extra prevalent in black males.
One in 4 black males will get the illness of their lifetime, in comparison with different males who’ve a one in eight likelihood of creating the most cancers.
Ugo stated: “We nonetheless want to know why black males are two instances as more likely to get prostate most cancers however crucial factor is that we all know they do.
I can’t present a coherent reply on how I acquired by that (Strictly) evening
Ugo Monye
“If males do one thing early sufficient and get themselves checked out they’ll extend their life or, with remedy, survive in the event that they catch it early sufficient.
“Most adults know to go to the dentist twice a 12 months to get their tooth checked, however they don’t know the way typically they need to get checked at their GP.
“There’s at all times an excuse, ‘I’m busy, I’m drained, I’ve acquired an excessive amount of to do’.
“Nevertheless, if I stated one telephone name may save your life would you make it?”
Consciousness drive
Ugo has launched a brand new marketing campaign referred to as Know Your Roots to encourage households to share their medical backgrounds to assist encourage early prognosis of the illness.
Together with care supplier GenesisCare, he has designed a Father’s Day card which makes it simple to share household historical past of prostate most cancers – so future generations know their danger of creating it.
New analysis by the agency reveals 84 per cent of males are unaware if their mother and father ever had breast or prostate most cancers – a determine that rises to nearly 90 per cent when requested about aunts and uncles.
He stated: “I’ve two brothers and we completely discuss concerning the dangers of prostate most cancers and prevention.”
Learn extra on the Scottish Solar
Ugo stated he wished daughters Phoenix, 5, and two-year-old Ruby to additionally pay attention to their household medical historical past.
To obtain the Father’s Day card and discover out extra concerning the Know Your Roots marketing campaign go browsing to: https://www.genesiscare.com/uk/know-your-roots
