Why you might ask are people fundraising for The Urology Foundation (TUF) and the answer is because one in every two people will be affected by a urological cancer or condition in their lifetime, ruining hundreds of thousands of lives a year. Prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular and penile cancers effect nearly 75,000 new patients each year and bladder and kidney problems affect up to a quarter of the population.

Our mission is to succeed in our fight against all urology disease and our vision is a world where people will not die early from, or their quality of life will not be adversely affected by, urology disease.

For this reason, over the years, we have invested in a variety of different, yet pioneering, projects. The Urology Foundation has, for example, funded urologists to research into better solutions for men with prostate cancers. TUF has also sponsored training in robotic surgery, which is minimally invasive and can result in fewer side effects than more conventional surgery. TUF is also funding research that looks at developing biomechanical pelvic floor repair materials for urinary incontinence sufferers which can better integrate into the patients own tissues.

We are committed to improving the discipline and practice of urology by developing future leaders in the field, through investing in clinical skills and non-clinical education courses to aid urology professionals improve the management and safety of their urology department, among other vital skills.

The first Bike4TUF was held in 2012 at the instigation of consultant urologist Ben Eddy from East Kent Hospital Trust to repay the support TUF gave him and his team. A TUF grant enabled them to visit a major robotic centre of excellence in America. We were just getting started in our robotic service and it help us to get up and running he says. Ben is still passionate about supporting TUF and our work therefore continues to take the lead on this annual fundraising event.

However none of this can happen without funding so we ask you to please support the TUF riders and TUF in order that our vital work can continue