Local brewery Norfolk Brewhouse have joined forces with Norwich based charity It’s On The Ball in a January campaign to raise awareness of testicular cancer, with support from over 70 pubs and clubs across Norfolk and a new beer called Tobi’s Tipple Special Edition.

Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer amongst young men as well as a difficult subject to get men talking about. So creating a special beer, with the support of pubs, seemed like the perfect combination to increase awareness and conversations, whilst also encouraging people into their local in January, often one of the toughest months in a pub’s year.

With over 70 pubs and clubs across Norwich and Norfolk supporting Tobi’s Tipple Special Edition there’s lots happening. Some pubs are getting right behind the campaign – donating, organising events and fundraising, including:

• The Whalebone donating 10p per pint for every pint of Tobi’s Tipple Special Edition sold during January.
• The Binham Chequers hosting quiz and bingo-balls nights on Friday 15 and Saturday 16.
• The Aldborough Black Boys having a sponsored head shave.

Tobi is the charity’s pants wearing logo (an anagram of IOTB, the initials of It’s On The Ball). His oversized y-fronts have been seen at many events increasing the awareness of the charity and its basic message for men to check themselves monthly. A ‘Pants Wall of Fame’ is a feature on the IOTB website and it is hoped that many more pictures will be added to this during the campaign.

Local band The Naked Lights have given their time for free. They will be wearing Tobi pants, and raising awareness playing gigs in the following pubs:

• Kings Head, Holt on Friday 22 January from 9 pm
• Rose Inn, Queens Road, Norwich Friday 29 January from 9 pm
• Murderers, Norwich on Saturday 30 January from 9 pm
• Plasterers, Norwich on Sunday 31 January from 9 pm

It’s On The Ball was established in 2013 by a group of testicular cancer patients, their families and NHS staff, to help raise awareness and provide support to patients who have been diagnosed. Chairman of the charity, Vince Wolverson said “We are delighted by the support that David and Rachel of the Norfolk Brewhouse have given us, and hope that Tobi’s Tipple will help to raise awareness of Testicular Cancer amongst men and remind them to check themselves regularly for the signs and symptoms of the disease.”

Norfolk Brewhouse Brewer and co-owner David Holliday, said; “Creating the beer was the easy bit, now we want to help raise awareness of testicular cancer with the support of so many great pubs. To us, supporting It’s On The Ball was a no brainer, by spreading a simple message we can all easily help save lives and creating the campaign in January also helps to promote and encourage people into their local pubs.” Mike Lorenz from the Whalebone said; “We are delighted at the Whalebone to be supporting Norfolk Brewhouse with Tobi’s Tipple Special Edition Ale and will be donating 10p for each pint sold during January to It’s On the Ball – our dedicated Charity for 2016.”