Toolstation, a retailer of tools and building materials, and official sponsors of radio show Hawksbee & Jacobs, have partnered with talkSPORT, Macmillan Cancer Support, and Greene King to host a special, one-off event in front of a live audience on Friday 6 June, aiming to encourage more open conversations around men’s health.
Presenters Paul Hawksbee and Andy Jacobs will swap their regular talkSPORT studio for the Greene King pub The George in Southwark, hosting a three-hour ‘Cheers to Wellness’ show between 1:00pm and 4:00pm. During this show, they will discuss the importance of men managing their mental and physical health, participating in regular check-ups, and breaking the stigma of talking openly about these topics ahead of Men’s Health Week.
Hawksbee & Jacobs will be joined by well-known special guests from the world of sport throughout the live show, who will be on hand to discuss their personal experiences with men’s health conditions and how they overcame them. These include former footballers Aaron Lennon, Perry Groves, and Steven Caulker, former rugby union player Gavin Henson, and former rugby league player Junior Nsemba.
The one-off special will also encourage men who are living with, worried by, or affected by cancer to use the support and services of Macmillan, charity partner to both Toolstation and Greene King, and aims to build an environment in which men feel comfortable to do so. This comes after research conducted by Greene King found that only a third of men regularly (more than once a month) talk to family or friends about personal issues, but as many as half (52%) men say they feel more comfortable discussing personal issues when side-by-side, whether walking with a mate, chatting over a pint, or during a car ride.
A report from the UK Government Health and Safety Executive in 2024 found that the construction industry has the largest volume of occupational cancers amongst the industrial sectors, with over 40% of occupational cancer deaths and cancer registrations being from the industry. As Macmillan’s charity partner, Toolstation continues to raise awareness of their services available to trade customers and hosts regular fundraisers across the business to help continue expanding these services, having raised over £3m since launching the partnership in 2020.
In addition to Toolstation’s sponsorship of the live show, the retailer will also be sponsoring talkSPORT’s new season of the ‘After the Lights Go Out’ podcast hosted by Steve Harmison and Leon McKenzie, which focuses on the mental and physical struggles of sports personalities following the end of their careers.
Chris Other, Customer Director at Toolstation, says, “The strong bond created between tradespeople is such an important aspect of the industry and on-site discussions are always thriving, whether that be regarding sports, pop culture, lunchtime snacks, and more. However, men’s health remains an uncomfortable discussion for many, and this is something we want to change.
“By working with talkSPORT, Macmillan, and Greene King, we hope to break the stigma by demonstrating how open and comfortable men can be when discussing their own health in front of both a live and national audience, and encourage men to feel the same way talking to friends, family, or even the Macmillan Support Line.”
Liam Fisher, Head of talkSPORT, comments, “Sport is a subject where many men naturally lean into the conversation, and talkSPORT is one of the most popular destinations for those conversations to be had. I’m delighted that talkSPORT is part of this very exciting collaboration with Toolstation, Greene King, and Macmillan. Together, we can encourage important conversations about men’s health in ways that really resonate.”
Michael Stickland, Director of Corporate Partnerships & Philanthropy for Macmillan Cancer Support, adds, “We know that cancer can disrupt your whole life, and that it affects everyone differently. This is a wonderful opportunity to get men to talk about their health, a first step to prioritising it. In 2024, only 37% of people who contacted the Macmillan Support Line were men, despite men accounting for 52% of cancer cases diagnosed each year in the UK.
“We’re doing whatever it takes to help more people with cancer get the best care the UK has to offer. We can clearly see the need to get men talking, and by harnessing the combined power of partners like Toolstation, Greene King, and talkSPORT to spark a conversation, we can make a real difference.”
Tradespeople interested in attending the free live show can head to The George, 75 Borough High St, London SE1 1NH, between 1:00pm and 4:00pm on Friday 6th June. To listen in to Friday’s special edition of the Hawksbee & Jacobs talkSPORT show, go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Acast.
For more from Toolstation, click here.