FRIENDS who went to visit Gary Ablett shortly after he was hospitalised for the first time with Leukaemia still speak of their profound shock at the sight which greeted them.

Gone temporarily was the imposing frame of a powerful athlete who graced the defences of both Everton and Liverpool during their Eighties and Nineties.

In its place was a fragile man clinging onto life after being physically ravaged by an aggressive disease that cares not a jot for past glories.

It still surprises more when young people are struck with cancer, especially footballers.

They are supposed to be the epitome of physical fitness, even when they have retired and turned to coaching, cancer seems out of place among the ranks of our former heroes.

But Ablett’s condition, like John Hartson and Eric Abidal, proves anyone can fall victim.

And typically the FA Cup winner is doing everything he can to raise awareness about his illness, and to encourage people to act quickly and get crucial earlier diagnosis.

Blue September is specifically aimed at raising awareness of cancers that can affect men – including lung, prostate, bowel and skin – and the lifestyle choices males can make to reduce their risk.

It also encourages men to seek medical advice as soon as possible if they have a worrying symptom.

And former Blue Ablett, who was part of the 1995 Everton FA Cup final side which defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley, is urging male fans to get medical advice if they are worried about a change in their physical well-being.

Gary, 45, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last year.

The illness, a blood cancer, struck just as Ablett, who also played for Liverpool, was about to embark on the next phase of his career by joining Roy Keane’s coaching staff at Ipswich Town.

It was something he never imagined would ever affect him, which is why he is backing Blue September.

“I wholeheartedly support this campaign,” said Gary reflecting on the time after he was diagnosed with cancer.

“I thought it can’t be me, it just can’t. I felt so strong – I had played for the best two teams in the world, coached for the best two teams in the world.

“It can’t be me. But unfortunately it was.

“In terms of what I’ve been through with the different regimes of the chemotherapy, the blood transfusions, the platelet transfusions, eight radiotherapy sessions, the lumber punches and I had a bone marrow transplant in January 2011…the list can go on and on.”

He added: “If you feel anything, you need to get it checked out. I’ve done it previously in the past when I had cancer in my toe.

“Get it checked, don’t mess around. Don’t ever think it can’t be you because it could be. Cancer doesn’t discriminate - it can attack anyone at any time.”

For the past two years, Everton’s Premier League Men’s Health programme has also been working to provide males aged 18-35 years with a pathway towards a more positive and healthier lifestyle.

Based at the Everton Active Family Centre, Goodison Park, the programme helps men from the local community to access a wide range of resources such as gym facilities, health information, mentoring and advice from trained coaches.

More information about Blue September can be found at www.blueseptember.org.uk, where even Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard allowed blue paint to be daubed on their faces for such a worthy cause - along with Donald Faison who played Dr Turk in popular TV comedy Scrubs.

For more information about Everton’s impressive Premier League Men’s Health programme visit www.evertonfc.com/community.