A father, a son, a 5K and £500 toward York Against Cancer

On Sunday 21st June, our member Mick and his son joined more than 200 runners at Rowntree Park for the R U Taking the P..? 5K the annual York fun run raising awareness of prostate cancer and funds for York Against Cancer.

Mick put it plainly: “Just completed 5K for York Against Cancer.”

We’re proud to add to it. York Vikings Rotary Club has donated £500 to the charity in support of their run, with Mick and his son Peter raising additional personal sponsorship on top.

A run with the right timing

The event fell on Father’s Day which is the point. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with more than 50,000 men diagnosed every year. A father-and-son 5K, for a charity that funds cancer research and patient support across York and North Yorkshire, is exactly the kind of thing Father’s Day was made for.

The fun run was founded in York by hairdresser Brian Hughes of Knavesmire Harriers, after a friend lost his life to prostate cancer. This year’s race was started by the Lord Mayor of York, Cllr Margaret Wells, and the event continues to be backed by Sir Stephen Fry, himself a prostate cancer survivor.

Last year’s event raised £18,000. Organiser Max Burton called this year “a fantastic day” and is hopeful of landing close to that figure again.

About York Against Cancer

Founded in 1987, York Against Cancer has funded more than £5 million of cancer research and medical innovation across York, North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire.

That includes:

• Pioneering research at the Jack Birch Unit at the University of York
• A £700,000 mobile chemotherapy unit the first of its kind in Yorkshire when it launched in 2017
• A robotic surgical system at York Hospital
• A free minibus taking patients to St James’s Hospital in Leeds for radiotherapy
• Two respite properties offering free short breaks for patients and families
• The Leveson Centre cancer support centre
• Project CARES  Cancer Awareness and Risk Education in Schools, plus thousands of free sun hats to local primary schools

Practical help for patients and families, and serious research funding. A local charity that punches well above its weight.

Well done, Mick

To Mick and his son thank you for putting in the miles, and for the fundraising. And to everyone at York Against Cancer thank you for the work you do, day in, day out, for the people of York.

Learn more at yorkagainstcancer.org.uk.