Former Sunderland teammates Mick Harford and Gary Bennett will join forces once again to help raise awareness of prostate cancer across the North East.

Both former Black Cats have undergone treatment themselves after being diagnosed with the disease which affects one in eight men nationwide and takes the lives of 12,000 men in the UK each year.

Harford and Bennett are inviting football fans to join them on Ron's March - a nationwide initiative - with the Durham and Northumberland leg taking place in Sunderland on Wednesday, December 13, the day after the Black Cats Championship clash with Leeds United at the Stadium of Light.

Fans are invited to meet at the Stadium of Light at 9.30am, with the walk starting at 10am.

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Walkers will take part in a five-mile route, starting at the Stadium of Light, heading to Sunderland Marina and along the coast, before returning via Roker Park and finishing at the Fan Museum.

Ron's March was set up by avid Luton Town supporter Ron Hedley following his diagnosis with prostate and bone cancer five years ago. The initiative, which is backed by charity Prostate Cancer UK and the Bob Willis Fund, has raised tens of thousands of pounds for prostate cancer research through auctions. 

The series of walks will raise vital funds for research into the disease, with some of the money raised next week being donated to hospitals in Sunderland and South Tyneside.

It will also encourage men to get tested, with those aged over 50 eligible for free blood tests with their doctor.

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Fans wishing to join the walk, should register by Sunday, December 10th and can do so by clicking this link, donate £20 and when asked to comment, mention SAFC-Ron's March.

Those who take part will be presented with a Ron's March t-shirt, a Bob Willis Fund cap, badges and a prostate cancer booklet.