DARTS sponsor Paddy Power are on course to donate £1million to Prostate Cancer UK.
The Irish bookies have renewed their pledge of £1,000 for every 180 scored at the World Darts Championship at Ally Pally this year.
On top of that, Paddy Power are offering one lucky darts fan the chance to win a £180,000 cash prize live on stage ahead of the WDC final.
The Darts of Destiny sporting challenge will see one person – selected at random – take a shot at glory if they can score 180 points from a maximum of nine darts on January 3 2026.
If they hold their nerve they’ll start the new year £180,000 better off – only £20,000 less than the losing semi-finalists at the tournament themselves will pocket.
For a chance in the draw fans can enter the Darts of Destiny Just Giving page – set-up to help raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
It’s all part of Paddy Power’s The Even Bigger 180 campaign where the Professional Darts Corporation and Sky Sports join Prostate Cancer UK as partners.
Along with the Darts of Destiny challenge, Paddy Power has renewed its 180 pledge, which in 2023/24 raised £914,000 and £907,000 last year for the charity.
Dutchman Christian Kist and Aussie thrower Damon Heta both hit nine-dart finishes at last year’s tournament, bumping the total raised to £1,027.000.
The Ballon d’Art trophy will also be up for grabs for the player who throws the most 180s in the tournament.
World Champion Luke Littler is the current holder after landing 76 last year, with Luke Humphries out to regain the prize after his win with 73 in the inaugural 2024 version.
Meanwhile, Prostate Cancer UK are calling on 180,000 men to check their risk of prostate cancer during the tournament.
More than a quarter-of-a-million men took the risk checker during the first two years of the campaign.
In the UK, one man dies from prostate cancer every 45 minutes. But finding it early, when it’s easier to treat, can save lives.
Laura Kerby, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re thrilled to be back on the oche with Paddy Power again this festive period as The Even Bigger 180 returns.
“This campaign has had an incredible impact in making men across the UK more aware of their risk of prostate cancer, and what they can choose to do about it.
“That’s crucial, as this disease often has no symptoms in its earlier, more treatable stages.”
Funds raised through The Even Bigger 180 campaign will support Prostate Cancer UK’s TRANSFORM trial – the biggest prostate cancer screening trial for 20 years.
TRANSFORM will test the most promising screening techniques including PSA blood tests, genetic spit tests and fast MRI scans.
It will identify the safest, most accurate and most effective way to test for prostate cancer.
Laura added: “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and 1 in 8 of our dads, brothers, grandads and mates will get it.
“Sadly, too many men are being diagnosed at a later stage – when it’s much harder to treat.
“And yet, Prostate cancer remains the UK’s last major cancer without a screening programme.
“We’re striving to build a world where no man dies of prostate cancer. And the future of screening is already underway.
“Thanks to the incredible efforts of the PDC players, backed by Paddy Power, the funds raised will go towards supporting game-changing research like our TRANSFORM trial.
“That will help us find the missing pieces we need to build a safe and effective screening programme for all men, to catch prostate cancer early and save thousands of lives.”
You can check your risk online in just 30 seconds by visiting Prostate Cancer UK’s Risk Checker.
