Run for the Future

Countdown to the future

Countdown to Saving Men’s Lives

Carol Vorderman had the simplest of countdowns to launch this year’s Run for the Future and raise hopes of a new national screening programme for prostate cancer.

Carol, who now lives in Bristol, was taking part in the Bristol Rotarians organised event on the Downs for the first time since launching the BUI Bristol Prostate Cancer Appeal eight years ago.

A total of 630 men, women and children took part in the 5km charity run and if everyone sends in their sponsorship money it’s hoped to raise up to £40,000 to add the £100,000 raised in the first two years.

That money is already being used to fund a joint research project between the BUI at Southmead Hospital and the University of the West of England into the early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

One of the projects involves testing urine to detect prostate cancer and, if successful, its hope to pave the way for the introduction of a national screening programme on the NHS. More than 35,000 men get the disease every year in the UK, resulting in more than 10,000 deaths.

A minute’s silence was held before the start after which Carol counted down for the Lord Mayor, Cllr Chris Davies, blasted a horn. First home was former Olympic runner, Nick Rose, with Amanda Rhodes the first woman to cross the line.

The only negative note of a highly successful event was that BUI Director, David Gillatt, who addressed the competitors before the start, suffered a heart attack during the run. After being treated at the scene by consultant colleagues, he underwent surgery at the BRI, but he’s now recovering back at home.