Thanks to everyone who has given so far! -Lucy Berrington & Joel - please send sean@yanks-abroad.com your addresses to receive your copies of 'Soccer Rocks!' Thanks, Jay.

Hi!

This is Jay DeMerit, center back for Watford F.C. of England's Premier League.

Thanks for visiting my page. Let me tell you why I am supporting Cancer Research UK and why you should donate to this good cause.

I came to England three years ago from Wisconsin, wanting to travel, have fun and play a bit of soccer. Now here I am in 2006, lining up against the likes of Thierry Henry, Wayne Rooney and Andriy Shevchenko!

Watford spotted me playing for little Northwood two seasons ago, signed me on a professional contract and the rest is history.

Last May I scored the winning goal at the Millennium Stadium in the Championship Playoff Final and thereby I achieved my dream of becoming a Premiership player.

Unfortunately, not everyone achieves their dreams because cancer steals their lives from them too soon.

When I played for Northwood, my assistant coach's father died of the disease and I thought about how precious life is, and how swiftly and cruelly it can be snatched away.

We played a charity game in his memory in aid of Cancer Research UK and so when I recorded the single "Soccer Rocks!" with some friends in Minneapolis this summer, I decided it had to go to a good cause, and I could not think of one closer to my heart than this.

Rare is the family that has not been touched by the second-biggest killer of people in the US & the UK, but we are fighting back.

Cancer research has made a significant impact on survival rates by developing new diagnoses, drugs and treatments once thought impossible, and has made millions aware of the links between lifestyle, diet and cancer for the first time.

What seemed like an automatic death sentence a generation ago is no longer so, thanks to the amazing efforts of the thousands of scientists, doctors & nurses funded by this charity, who have also worked hard to improve doctor to patient communication and sufferers' quality of life. In short, millions of lives have been saved.

Cancer continues to steal the dreams of too many children and adults of all ages, but thanks to people like you, many more have lived to follow theirs.

Please help somebody live to follow their dreams by donating to Cancer Research UK today.

Whatever country you live in, you can give money that will go directly to fight cancer right here. Donating via this site is fast, simple and totally secure. You can use your VISA, MASTERCARD, DELTA, MAESTRO or SOLO card to give to this good cause.

If you are a UK taxpayer, 28% extra in reclaimed tax will be added to your donation at no cost to you.

Please give whatever you can - to help someone else follow their dreams. It means a lot to me and to all of us, and remember,

Every penny helps somebody live

All the best,

Jay DeMerit

If you have any trouble donating online, email help@justgiving.net 

Thanks to Sean at www.yanks-abroad.com for help with this appeal