"Rob Cross Wears Special Badge at Ally Pally: How Darts Helped Save a Relative's Life"

ROB CROSS will wear with pride on his shirt a Prostate Cancer UK badge on Friday – because throwing darts saved a relative’s life.

The 2018 world champion was given the ‘Man of Men’ pin as a gift last by Colin Wilde, his cousin’s husband, who had just come out of hospital.

Rob Cross will wear a Prostate Cancer UK badge because getting checked saved a relative’s lifeCredit: Supplied Colin Wilde, Cross’ cousin’s husband, had life-saving surgery to remove an enlarged prostate 12 months agoCredit: Supplied

Wilde, 59, always watches the arrows on TV, especially when family member Cross is at the oche, but there is a poignant, emotional association now.

For the past two years, Ally Pally fans aged 40 and older have been encouraged to check their risk for the disease – in the UK, one man dies from every 45 minutes – via an online portal that takes 30 seconds to complete.

Wilde, a bus driver from Rotherham, followed that advice, having experienced symptoms a few years earlier when he was making regular trips to the loo at night.

After being diagnosed with stage-two cancer in October 2024, he then had life-saving surgery to remove an enlarged prostate 12 months ago.

Wilde, who turns 60 in January, said: “My wife Pat’s cousin is .

“I sent Rob and his family Christmas cards that included the Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ badges and asked if he would wear it on his shirt during the tournament.

“I was messaging Rob’s mum Sally and she said how worried he had been. That was a very emotional moment for me and made me feel really cared for.”

The uncertainty around Colin’s situation is one of the reasons why Cross lost in the second round last year, going down 3-1 to Scott Williams.

Cross – who opens his 2025-26 World Championship against Norwegian Cor Dekker on Friday afternoon – said: “It’s daunting what Colin’s been going through.

“Of course you are always affected when you are close to someone.

“Thankfully, it worked out really well and he found it early. Putting that badge on was an amazing thing for me.”

Sponsors are donating £1,000 to Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 thrown during the 20-day Championship.

Plus for every nine-dart leg hit this festive period there is a £180,000 pot shared equally between the player, a fan in the crowd and the charity.

The whole campaign, which has been brilliantly marketed, forced Cross to get checked himself, but thankfully he was okay.

Cross, a father of four, said: “I actually had a problem at the time, so I was in there and I said to the doctors: ‘Can you just check that?’ It was all good.

“In 2024, Colin went in, having seen that 30-second test on TV, and he had it done.

“He was having a few symptoms. He’s had it out now and it’s a blessing that everything’s alright.

“Him and Pat come to watch me all the time. They’re very big supporters. They go out with my mum and dad all the time. I’m never usually around too much and, when I am, I’m up to no good.

“If you ain’t got your health in life, you’ve got nothing. It’s priceless.

“It’s as simple as that. You can have darts, you can have , whatever you want in life.

“It could give you a million pounds or a billion and it still doesn’t mean anything – because it’s no good being the richest man in the graveyard. Health is everything.

“Look at (who has terminal cancer). It’s unbelievable. He’s the fittest fellow in the world. It just shows you, doesn’t it, that it can affect anyone.”

Cross, by his own admission, has struggled to find motivation this year as his ranking has plummeted to 17th in the world.

This time he is defending £100,000 prize money that he earned from his run to the semi-finals two years ago when he lost to debutant .

Voltage, 35, said: “I’ve been so up and down. My problem isn’t really darts. It’s just that motivation, give yourself a kick up the backside.

“We’re all weird and wonderful aren’t we? As brilliant as we can all be, we all come with a downside – and I suppose that’s mine at the minute.

“It’s just weird, just not really wanting to practise and stuff. Feel a bit lazy.

“I’m in the gym at the minute and I’m trying to just sort of give myself a bit more energy and stuff.

“Look, I have never worried about rankings. I don’t really give a monkeys because, say just for instance, if I don’t defend it, I’ve got nothing to defend for two years.”