On 7 November 2025, Khon Kaen University (KKU), in collaboration with the SINGHA ALL STAR team, hosted the charity football match, the “SINGHA ALL STAR Unity Match 2025.” This event marked the second installment of the ‘Playing with Doctors Against 3 Cancers’ project.
Associate Professor Pattarapong Makarawate, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, accepted the presented financial support, accompanied by Assistant Professor Attapol Titapun, M.D., Head of the Cholangiocarcinoma Center of Excellence in the Faculty of Medicine, KKU, and Vice President of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute (CARI).
The star-studded SINGHA ALL STAR team, led by Somchai Khemklad, featured celebrities and athletes, including Tao Somchai, John Bravo, Buakaw Banchamek, and Tono Pakin. They competed against a team composed of medical professionals and staff from Khon Kaen University, alongside youth participants from the football clinic and members of the public who attended the event in large numbers at the KKU 50th Anniversary Stadium.
Somchai Khemklad, Leader of the SINGHA ALL STAR team, stated that the ‘Playing with Doctors Against 3 Cancers’ project is a meaningful activity that has been running continuously for ten years. This year, the project partnered with three leading medical universities to assist the public, focusing particularly on cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer), which is a significant public health issue in the Northeast of Thailand.
“This is the second consecutive year we have collaborated with Khon Kaen University,” Khemklad noted. “Beyond the football match, we also provide disease screening for cholangiocarcinoma patients to enable earlier diagnosis. I am deeply pleased and proud to once again contribute positively to the people of Khon Kaen Province. The SINGHA ALL STAR team is committed to leveraging the ‘Power of Sport’ to create social value, with the ultimate goal being good health and sustainable quality of life for all Thais. We must thank the doctors and the Khon Kaen community for their consistently warm welcome.”
Associate Professor Pattarapong Makarawate, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, revealed that the collaboration with the SINGHA ALL STAR team is crucially important for addressing community health issues, as the three cancers targeted by the project are life-threatening diseases that take a significant toll on the Thai population.
“Breast cancer is the number one cancer found in women and a leading cause of death. Meanwhile, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the fifth in women, often caused by unsuitable dietary behaviours,” said Dean Makarawate.
He further elaborated on the regional issue: “Cholangiocarcinoma is a specific problem in the Northeastern and Northern regions, primarily caused by liver fluke infestation resulting from the consumption of raw freshwater fish. Currently, an estimated 8 to 10 million people are infected with the parasite, and approximately 20,000 new cases are reported annually. Therefore, early-stage screening significantly increases the chances of a complete cure.”
“The funds raised through this project will support screening and prevention efforts for cholangiocarcinoma within the local community. It is anticipated that over 3,000 community members will receive comprehensive, complimentary screening for various cancers in the area, thus improving public access to health services,” the Dean concluded.
The charity football event commenced from 15:00 onwards. Activities began with the Singha Youth Football Clinic, followed by the opening ceremony which included paying respects to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. The programme featured a three-quarter charity football match, a mini-concert by the SINGHA ALL STAR celebrities, an auction of signed celebrity memorabilia, and concluded with a musical performance titled ‘With Love and Remembrance, Paying Tribute to Her Majesty The Queen Mother’ by students and the band No One Else.
The project also received dedicated support from Khon Kaen Brewery Company Limited and various partners who pushed forward the goal of sustainable community healthcare.
The ‘Playing with Doctors Against 3 Cancers’ charity football event is held continuously for its tenth year. This year, it partnered with three of the nation’s leading medical institutions:
- Mae Fah Luang University (MFU): Hosted the first match on 1 October 2025, at the MFU campus, supporting breast cancer screening.
- Khon Kaen University (KKU): Hosted the second match, supporting cholangiocarcinoma screening.
- Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) Ongkharak Campus: Will host the final match on 28 November 2025, supporting colorectal cancer screening.
