Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am going to complete the Dales Way from Ilkley in Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere with three friends to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. 

Around 15,000 men are treated for localised prostate cancer each year, for the majority that treatment is successful. However, it is important that further research is carried out to improve early detection rates.

Last July 2018 my wife was watching the BBC breakfast programme when they had a feature on prostate cancer in men.

It was highlighting the fact that many men are walking around with prostate cancer and don’t even know they have it!!

It was advising men, particularly over 50 years of age, to go along to their GP’s and have a simple blood test to measure the Prostate- specific antigen (PSA) level. This is a protein produced exclusively by the prostate cells.

So, as I was due a well man’s clinic visit anyway, off I went. Whilst there I mentioned to the doctor about this PSA test. He asked me various
questions then went onto say, that as I had no obvious symptoms of prostate cancer, they generally didn’t do this blood test. Knowing my wife as I do, if I hadn’t have ‘pushed’ for this, she would have marched me straight back and insisted I had this ‘simple’ blood test done.

After a week or so I had the results back showing a PSA level of
4.6 - the ‘marker’ for further investigation is 4.0.

After a variety of other tests, I was told I had the very early stages of prostate cancer. Shocked as I was to hear this, as again, I had NO symptoms. Needing treatment for this, I chose to have the brachytherapy treatment in December last year.

As a follow up and retesting in May, my PSA level had dropped to
0.69 – showing excellent results!!!

So, my words to all you men out there, is, go and get this simple
test done for yourselves, as catching this early, the success rate is excellent.

Likewise, the wives and partners out here need to ensure the men
in your life go and have this checked out - before it’s too late!!

It is supporters like you that will make research like this possible.

I thank you  anticipation.

For more information see their website  - www.prostatecanceruk.org   

We will be walking the Dales Way over 6 days -  82 miles in total.

We will be completing them as follows:.

Sunday 1st Sept.     Ilkley to Burnsall                    13 miles.

Monday 2nd             Burnsall to Hubberhome      16 miles.

Tuesday 3rd             Hubberhome to Cow Gill      16 miles.

Wednesday 4th       Cow Gill to Sedbergh             10 miles.

Thursday 5th           Sedbergh to Burnside            17 miles.

 Friday 6th                Burnside  to Bowness            10 miles    

You can see the route we will walk at;  www.dalesway.org/route

Please give generously to this worthy charity & cause.

Sincerely

Paul