BRAVE former Pars striker Jordan Moore has been chosen to launch a new cancer campaign in Scotland after retiring from professional football.

The 22-year-old, who has twice battled skin cancer, is fronting 'Stand up to Cancer' – a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 – and is encouraging people across the country to help support new tests and treatments for patients.

Moore was just 19 and on loan at East End Park from Dundee United when he was first diagnosed with melanoma on January 20, 2014, when a rapidly-growing mole on the right side of his face turned out to be cancerous.

News of his condition, however, did not emerge until April of that year as Moore, who hit eight goals in 10 starts for Athletic, took to Twitter to reveal why he had been absent from the Dunfermline squad since a February Scottish Cup clash with Rangers.

After two operations, which included 12 hours of gruelling surgery to remove 80 lymph nodes in May 2014, Moore is now clear of cancer but after a spell with League of Ireland side Limerick, he has taken the heartbreaking decision to hang up his boots.

As he prepares to pursue a new career, possibly as a police officer, Moore said: "Football has been my whole life so moving on from that now is incredibly tough.

"I trained every day, even on Christmas Day, and I've never had to think about another job until now. But there is so much more out there that I can do. I want to go down the road of helping people instead of concentrating just on football.

"When I was first told I had skin cancer, the doctor asked me if I was always out in the sun or using sunbeds. I’ve never used sunbeds but I grew up playing football outside every day wearing no sun screen so my skin must have been exposed to the sun all those years. That’s why I now believe it’s vital when kids are out training on football pitches to make sure they’re wearing sun cream to protect their skin.

"I’ve had brilliant support from my pals in the football world and my family. I’m so proud to support Stand Up To Cancer and I want to encourage as many people as possible to join me and stand up to this devastating disease."

Stand up to Cancer culminates on Friday, October 21, with a night of live TV on Channel 4 led by the brightest stars in film, TV and music, and for more information, visit standuptocancer.org.uk.