Andy and I would like to thank you once again for allowing us to host a Prostate Cancer UK information stand at the Blackpool show.

As you probably know, it was our 10th year of volunteering to be at the show – apart from the Covid years – and it was our busiest ever. Over those years we have developed a relationship with many of your visitors, which we hope is built on trust. For this reason, so many men have been to speak to their GP after chatting to us at the show, and a number of them were diagnosed with prostate cancer: we are pleased to say that most have been successfully treated. This would not have been possible if it wasn’t for your generosity in enabling Andy and myself to be there.

We first came to the show as my dad was a pigeon fancier, who attended the show every year. Sadly he was diagnosed with prostate cancer before my mum, my sisters or myself had ever heard of it, and he didn’t recognise his symptoms until it was too late. Tragically, he ultimately died from prostate cancer, but I know that he would almost certainly have visited a prostate cancer stand at the show, had there been one. Who knows what the outcome might have been if he had…?

Unbelievably, my husband was then diagnosed with prostate cancer seven years later, and has had treatment which was successful. However, this means that our three sons are at a higher risk.

My colleague Andy was diagnosed and successfully treated when he was in his 40’s. His father also had prostate cancer, and by coincidence he was a pigeon fancier too and attended the show every year.

This is the reason we are passionate about raising awareness and we do feel – in fact, know – that we have helped save lives just by being at the show for the last 10 years.

With thanks and best wishes
Susan and Andy