Noel offers men a deal for life
14/05/2008
TV Presenter Noel Edmonds will formally launch a charity run which promises men a better deal and a chance of surviving a disease which kills around 14,000 men a year in the UK.
Noel, who presents the Channel 4 show, Deal or No Deal, will launch Bristol Rotary's 2008 Run for the Future to support and fund vital research into the early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
This year's 5km run will take place on the Downs in Bristol on 7 September and organisers are hoping to repeat the success of the first two events, which raised more than £100,000 towards the BUI Bristol Prostate Cancer Appeal.
That money is now being used to fund a joint research project between the Bristol Urological Institute at Southmead Hospital and the University of the West of England.
At present, there is no formal screening programme for prostate cancer and only one man in 12 in the UK has the PSA blood test, which can be an early indicator of the disease, despite the fact that early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.
The new project includes investigating testing urine to see if this could be a more accurate indicator of prostate cancer if successful it's hoped it could result in a national screening programme, which could save thousands of lives.
Noel Edmonds has a personal reason to be involved as his father died from prostate cancer at a time when there was not the awareness of the disease and says men should put there macho image to one side when it comes to their health.
"We're all too ready to brag about our prowess, but we don't talk about it when something isn't right down there," he says. "Men have a responsibility to themselves and their families to look after their health."
John Miles, chairman of the BUI Bristol Prostate Cancer Appeal, who had the disease himself eight years ago, says regular checks can lead to early diagnosis. "It can greatly improve the chances of successful treatment and really can save your life."
Race co-ordinator, Rotarian Ian Beattie, says Run for the Future is a fun event for all family members, not just for men. "It's about giving everyone hope," he says, "for the men who suffer from prostate cancer and their families."
For further information about the 2008 Run for the Future, or to participate in the event, visit the website linked below or call 0117 959 6328 for a registration form.