A CANCER survivor aims to surpass his total fundraising amount by the end of the year.
Ovingham resident, Paul Nash, is fundraising for Prostate Cancer UK again this year. Paul was treated for cancer back in 2010 and has been clear ever since, and he believes it is important to give something back for the support he and his family received.
His main sponsor, the Essity Prudhoe Mill, has donated 1,350 toilet rolls - 150 nine roll packs -which have raised more than £450 in donations so far.
READ MORE: Prostate cancer survivor raises funds with educational talks
In addition, he is co-hosting the Alston Moor Prostate Cancer UK Open, to be held this year on Friday, August 6, with places still up for grabs. Last year, the event raised over £4,400 so he hopes to repeat the same this year.
Paul, who is 76, started life as a teacher at Brownrigg Secondary Boarding School, Bellingham, in 1969.
"After 20 years of teaching, and five years running a Department for Education training project, I then set up my own education consultancy, eventually specialising in school building design," Paul said.
He explained why he would encourage people to donate: "Prostate cancer kills more than 11,000 men each year and rising, whilst at the same time tens of thousands more are undergoing treatment. As with all cancers, improving the diagnosis and treatment requires time and resources, which is where Prostate Cancer UK comes in by providing funding for specific research."
READ MORE: Prostate cancer survivor raises funds with educational talks
Paul is also a member of the charity's Public and Patient Involvement (PPI) team with specific responsibility for reviewing research projects bidding for funding, so he has first-hand knowledge of how important any money raised is in helping to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, and to improve the lives of men across the region.
"I am now a member of the six-person national PPI team responsible for assessing projects applying for support, which has given me insights into the wonderful work being undertaken across the UK, work that would otherwise have not taken place."
He said he doesn't have a fundraising goal, but hopes to raise more awareness about the disease.
"So far I have helped to raise nearly £20,000 so by the end of 2024, I hope to have broken this barrier."
However, he added: "I am more concerned with raising awareness because early diagnosis is the best solution."
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