Widow's Prostate Appeal
A Bristol teacher who’s husband died just 12 weeks ago from prostate cancer has made an emotional appeal to other women to persuade the men in their lives to get checked out for the disease.
Jo-Anne Middleton is only 43 and “angry” her husband Richard was taken from her at the age of 51, just 33 months after being diagnosed with what she calls “the silent killer”.
She’s now considering turning her back on her career to campaign to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
In his last few weeks, Jo-Ann’s husband wrote down the messages he wanted passed on after his death, the key one being the importance of research into the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease – it’s why she’ll be competing this weekend in Run for the Future in aid of the BUI Bristol Prostate Cancer Appeal.
“Middy was just 47 when he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer,” says Jo-Ann, “but after the initial shock he turned it round and was very positive. We didn’t expect him to go so quickly and had he still been with us he would have been there on Sunday.”
Run for the Future, which is sponsored this year by Spire Hospital, is organised by Bristol Rotarians and has raised more than £100,000 so far towards the BUI charity. The 5km run takes place on the Downs in Bristol on Sunday, starting at 12 noon.
Jo-Anne, who’s still coming to terms with her husband’s death, says other women shouldn’t have to go through the experience. “I feel as if I’ve lost a limb,” she says, “but it makes me even more determined to help others. Men need to see their GP’s and ask for a PSA blood test – it could literally save their lives.
“My husband was extremely fit – he won cross-country medals running for the Royal Navy – but he still got it. Incredibly some intelligent guys out there don’t even know where their prostate is or what it’s for. I’d like to see school leavers given that information so they don’t die of ignorance.”
Men aged 50 have a one in 11 chance of getting the disease and around 35,000 men in the UK get prostate cancer every year. More than 10,000 of them die, but early diagnosis greatly improves the chances of successful treatment.
Prospect health care services will be offering free PSA tests during the Run for the Future. You can register on the day to take part or for information visit the website at www.runforthefuture.org or phone the Run for the Future office on 0117 9596328.
