North Devon man launches cheeky underwear to raise testicular cancer
awareness

Rural North Devon-based ultra and endurance runner Andy Hood, 52, has turned a personal battle into a mission to spark conversation and save lives.

After surviving testicular cancer, Andy has launched his own line of underwear, Check Ya Balls, designed to encourage men to check themselves regularly and raise awareness about the disease.

“It was purely to spark conversation… I’m all about awareness,” Andy said. 

The underwear, featuring Andy’s own cheeky cartoon characters, serves as both a humorous reminder and a serious message. 

“It’s humorous, but with a really serious message… with humour always comes the awareness.”

In 2021, testicular cancer knocked Andy off his feet, stripping him of his love for running. What followed was a painful period of surgery and chemotherapy, a time to heal, reflect, and face the uncertain road ahead.

But Andy chose to rebuild. He calls this his “Andy v2.0” phase, coming back stronger with a renewed sense of purpose. 

“Cancer gave me a chance to reimagine my running journey, to merge it with a mission: raising awareness and supporting those battling cancer alongside me,” he said.

He credits Jeremy Clarkson and his co-hosts on The Grand Tour for inspiring him to check for cancer at 48. 

“Without their message, I would never have known. The cancer would have spread, and this website might not even exist. Now, I carry the torch, urging men to check, to speak up, and to break the silence around a cancer we don't talk about enough,” Andy said.

The idea for Check Ya Balls started on Andy’s ultra-running shorts. 

He first designed two cheeky “Ball” characters on the back of his running gear, with messages reading “testicular cancer survivor” and “check your balls,” aimed at sparking conversations during races. 

The strategy worked: people stopped him during ultra events and even asked for photos. “That proved the concept created engagement and openness about men’s health,” Andy said.

ABOVE: Andy Hood’s endurance running shorts featuring his cheeky ‘Ball’ characters, originally designed to spark conversations and raise awareness of testicular cancer during races

Realising people wouldn’t wear those messages on the outside in day-to-day life, Andy looked for a way to make the awareness campaign practical for everyday use. 

The answer? Underwear. 

“A private, everyday garment that could still deliver a memorable reminder,” he said.

Andy kept the cheeky character designs but focused on comfort for active use. 

“That was the underpants, the boxer shorts... I’ve gone for this ultra comfortable moisture-wicking material… a polyester spandex mix. It’s really comfortable,” he explained. He was equally particular about the designs: “I was really, really fussy on the designs… I designed these cheeky Ball characters… one said ‘testicular cancer survivor’ and the other said ‘check your balls.’”

The underwear went through a soft launch to test the response, and feedback highlighted both comfort and the effectiveness of the reminder.

Buyers reported that the product actively encouraged them to self-check, with one man even opening up about his cancer experience for the first time. 

“A pair of men’s boxers… has really prompted someone to open up as well… What I couldn’t wish for anything better than that,” Andy said.

ABOVE: Check Ya Balls black boxer shorts by Andy Hood, designed for comfort while promoting testicular cancer awareness and supporting charity fundraising.

Andy’s launch has been met with enthusiasm from customers across the UK. 

“I launched it… a quiet, soft launch… it’s just been amazing. The take-up’s been fantastic,” he said.

Customer feedback has been glowing. 

One man told Andy: “I love them so much, I wear them on nights out.”

Andy said: “People are messaging me, saying, ‘I absolutely love this, because it is going to remind me to do it.’”

The underwear has reached men far beyond Andy’s local area: “I’m all the way down into Cornwall… and all the way up through Scotland… length and breadth in between.”

Orders have even come in from as far afield as Spain. 

Andy has also leveraged his love of Krispy Kreme doughnuts for fundraising, completing extreme runs across London visiting multiple shops. “Krispy Kreme doubled everything I’d fundraised this year… which means I raised… about four and a half grand this year, split between the two [charities],” he said. Plans for future fundraising collaborations with the doughnut brand are already underway.

Andy has raised £25000 to date for cancer and mental health charities, driven by three core principles: Support. Advocate. Create.

Support - Whether packing boxes filled with love for cancer patients through ChemoHero or answering heartfelt messages online, Andy’s goal is to stand beside anyone walking through cancer. “I’ve been there—and I’ll be here for you,” he said.

Advocate - Andy didn’t check for testicular cancer until prompted at age 48, and he now carries that message forward, encouraging men to be self-aware and speak openly about men’s health.

Create -From content promoting self-awareness to designing the Check Ya Balls underwear, Andy’s work encourages both physical and mental wellbeing. “Checking in on our physical and mental wellbeing… my own designed range of men's underwear, Check Ya Balls, creates conversation and saves lives,” he said.

Each purchase of Check Ya Balls also supports two charities: The Robin Cancer Trust and Cahonas in Scotland. “I’m donating to them with every pair that I sell,” Andy said.

His vision for the brand is ambitious: “I want a pair in every single man’s underwear drawer,” he said. 

The plan includes new designs, a core range, limited editions, and an international launch in the US in early 2026.

 “Do I want to collab with people? Absolutely, 100%,” he added.

With comfort, cheek, and charity woven into every pair, Andy Hood has transformed a personal challenge into a nationwide movement, encouraging men to take a moment for themselves. 

Sometimes, he says, a small check can make the biggest difference.

Andy's underwear retails for £12.99 each or £24.99 for a twin pack and can be ordered here.