A lacrosse player is thanking his lucky stars after a ball hit him in the testicles - and saved his life.

The eye-watering injury lead to doctors discovering that 25-year-old Edward Solly was suffering from cancer.

And if it had not been for the excruciatingly painful strike from team mate Joe Burnett, the disease might not have been discovered until it was too late.

Mr Solly, a midfielder from Boughton Monchelsea, said: "He saved my life."

Now his friends from the Maidstone Red Wolves lacrosse team are preparing to have a group head shave to show solidarity to the midfielder and to raise awareness and funds for a testicular cancer charity.

Mr Solly, who was president of the club until April, said: "I got injured in a very painful manner. I went to the doctors, but the swelling didn’t really go down.

"They did an operation and then a biopsy and tests showed it was cancerous."

Mr Solly was rushed in for surgery and last Wednesday started weekly chemotherapy.

But despite the traumatic turn of events, the school worker - who lost his mother-in-law to cancer two years ago - is upbeat about his experience.

Mr Solly said: "Joey Burnett, who hit me with the ball, is one of my good friends and I now realise he saved my life. I would not have known I had it because there were no symptoms; no lumps; it was right in the middle, so even checking wouldn't have found anything.

"I am a really relaxed guy so it hasn't really bothered me, but I'm just trying to take it in my stride. There's no point in panicking, or getting upset about it."

Instead Mr Solly is turning his ordeal into something more positive.

On Sunday, facing the prospect of losing his hair through chemotherapy, he shaved his head.

And on Saturday, July 13, in Fremlin Walk, his team mates will lose their locks to raise funds for Checkemlads, a testicular cancer awareness charity.

Mr Solly said: "I think it is brilliant. It is really supportive of them all."

The team, who have also devised a charity logo and T-shirt, had hoped to raise £1,000 but smashed their target with £1,672 collected so far. Now they have a new £3,000 goal.

To support them, visit http://tinyurl.com/pdkb7vl or to give a donation on the day, go to Fremlin Walk between 11am and 4pm.