LYLE Taylor's mission in bringing fresh empathy, energy and understanding to challenging conversations around cancer has won hearts plus minds at Colchester United, writes MATT CALMUS.

Throughout October, our charismatic striker made a bold statement: wear pink hair unashamedly and unapologetically for an entire month.

It caught the attention of Sky TV cameras away at Chesterfield, local media in these very Gazette pages and further afield, too. Nationwide pharmaceutical company, UK Meds, championed Lyle with some very generous pledge amounts per goal scored.

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Likewise, the U's supporters' association (CUSA) promised matched pounds; a double donation for every penny raised, incredible support towards his cause. They now have circa £1,500 confirmed additional to this year's final totals; truly tremendous.

Call it candyfloss colour, a beetroot do or simply, in his own words, a "pink highlighter," if you like.

Whichever, Lyle's hair-raising style has had us all thinking a little longer and perhaps far more thoughtfully about things, using our heads quite literally for a greater good. Welcome pause, really, during frenetic lives and a typically fraught, nervy, ninety-plus minutes football.

Cancer does not discriminate, nor did our number 33 when designating donations for all types and variants. It's just like Lyle to have courage in his convictions, so why not raise a bucket-load of cash, too, while leading the charge? Inspired.

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He's helped too, by a clutch of team-mates and fellow employees, who've been moved to add monies themselves. The industry itself, although home to some primarily super-fit athletes, isn't immune: once top-flight defender, Sol Bamba, losing his life at 39 to lymphoma in August shows us that.

An overarching aim here is simply sparking chat, with a dual intent to find levity and laughter if possible.

That's alongside allowing for some obviously more heartfelt yet often devastatingly candid tales of illness and loss, which he's bravely acknowledged whenever asked. There can be few things more satisfying than giving cancer a damn good kicking.

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It seemed so fitting that Lyle wore the captain's armband during last weekend's especially appointed 'Pink Day' game against visiting Salford City, a deserved gesture and nod from within the coaching staff of what it means, as we come together for him this autumn.

Some say he's permanent skipper material of course, but boss Danny Cowley doesn't traditionally like to burden his forwards with such responsibility.

Few could carry off talking about the twin impostors of hope for cures and yet something so tinged with sadness as Lyle's done over the last four weeks.

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Smashing new frontiers in fundraising really does go beyond the stadium pitch's white lines; it transcends sport. How often can we unite in life against tragedy, but confront it with such confidence? That's the opportunity grandstanding for Lyle's chosen charity, Cancer Research UK, gives us here.

Better yet, now a new legion of U's fans proudly joins the growing army of folk who've been cheerleading Lyle's initially personal fight across a past half-decade, since this is the fifth time he's chosen to both promote awareness and make it all a spectacle.

He's proved also that sport will take on traditionally taboo subjects like cancer and advocate powerful social change.

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We can choose to see triumph in his joyful rebellion, wearing pink hair. From the ashes of despair so many of us already know or may yet feel due to this terrible disease, comes some comfort: a better, brighter beacon for a more hopeful future.

Lyle Taylor is a credit to Colchester United. But since everybody's in this campaign together, so are you.