From Ally Pally to Devon: how darts’ biggest night raised £1.1m for prostate cancer

“Thanks a million.” That was the reaction from Prostate Cancer UK after this year’s Paddy Power World Darts Championships reached a thrilling climax.

And high-scoring Devon players did their bit in helping raise thousands of pounds for the charity.

Sponsor Paddy Power once again donated £1,000 for every 180 scored at this year’s event, on the back of donations in excess of £2 million across the past two years.

Stunning stats show that darts players from the South West have raised £127,000 in the past three years – piling in with a further £89,000 during this year’s tournament.

Semi-finalist Ryan Searle, from Westleigh, in Mid Devon, notched 22 180s this year and has 45 overall, while Owen Bates, from Exeter, also added to the grand total of fundraising maximums.

Elsewhere in the region, James Hurrell (Moreton-in-Marsh) bagged 25 180s to sit on 29 in total. Somerset’s Justin Hood led the way in the South West, pinning 39 180s in his incredible march to the last eight of the 25/26 tournament.

Teen sensation Luke Littler was a back-to-back champion after a 7-1 win against Dutchman Gian van Veen sealed a second world title at the Ally Pally on January 3. The Warrington ace has now personally raised £212,000 for Prostate Cancer UK through the Paddy Power fundraising mechanic.

After a new record of 1,127 180s was posted during the Ally Pally tournament, £1,127,000 will be given to the charity, with the much-needed funds supporting groundbreaking research like Prostate Cancer UK’s TRANSFORM trial, a project which aims to find the best way to screen men for prostate cancer and save thousands of lives every year.

The lifesaving campaign has also reported that 170,000 men have checked their risk of prostate cancer during the tournament with over 125,000 at high risk.

That takes the overall total of risk checks completed during the combined three-year campaign periods to almost 500,000.

In the South West more than 6,300 men find out they have prostate cancer every year, according to the latest data. More than one in five of these men are diagnosed when their disease has spread and can't be cured. 

Littler said: “Prostate cancer wasn’t on my radar two years ago, but the stats about the disease are shocking, with one in eight men being affected, so it’s great that me and the players can play their part and make a difference.”

Prostate Cancer UK chief executive Laura Kerby, who collected the cheque from Paddy Power on the Ally Pally stage after the final, said: “Thanks a million! We’re absolutely thrilled at the success of the Even Bigger 180. 

 “Since 2023 we’ve been proud to stand on the oche with Paddy Power as well as the PDC and their world-class players who have raised crucial funds for those dads, brothers, grandads and mates affected by prostate cancer, one 180 at a time. Thanks to them, the last three years have changed the game for men, with more than £3m raised amid some incredible darting drama.

“This campaign continues to have a huge impact in making men aware of their risk of prostate cancer, and what they can do about it. That’s crucial, as this disease often has no symptoms in its earlier, more treatable stages.

“Prostate cancer is also the UK’s last major cancer without a comprehensive screening programme. We are striving to build a world where no man dies of prostate cancer. We are so grateful to Paddy Power whose incredible donations are supporting the groundbreaking