I am raising money for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation. Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer develops most frequently in men over fifty. Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer of all. It kills a man every hour in the UK, and the number of cases is steadily rising.
My father was diagnosed as having an advanced form of prostate cancer. He only went to the doctor because my Mum had played bridge, during which her friends had warned of the precautionary wisdom of obtaining a PSA test. Thankfully, the cancer was caught in time. With surgery, most of the cancer was removed and the remaining inaccessible stump remitted using radiotherapy. He has regular checks now and he is fine. But only by the grace of God, an NHS system that responded so quickly and a remarkable timeliness of that game of bridge.Very little is known about the disease. But we do know that speed is key. Had we known then what we know now, my father’s recovery would not have relied so heavily upon chance. The Prostate Charity Research Foundation http://www.thepcrf.org.uk/ is attempting to ensure that we all know more. The charity funds the independent worldwide research into the causes of prostate cancer, and shares that research to prostate cancer specialists from around the world. It is the same website that Bob Monkhouse posthumously supports.
And now I am looking to support the same charity. Like many during this credit crunch, I am being asked to take a two-week sabbatical in order that the firm may minimise redundancies. I see this as an opportunity that I shall make the very most of. I have always been in awe of the Himalayas. Eight of the world’s fourteen peaks that exceed 8,000m in height are situated in the Nepalese Himalayas. The highest of them all, standing at 8,848m, is Mt. Everest. I recall as a child reading my father’s first edition of Edmund Hillary’s account of his trip with Tenzing Norgay on the 29 May 1953 and that childhood wanderlust has never been cured.I won’t go quite as far up Mt. Everest, but this will be an amazing experience. It is a trek that starts at Lukla from where we shall trek through the lush valleys of Sagarmatha National Park, with time to explore its villages and monasteries, to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar. We shall be spending some time around there to acclimatise to the altitude, following the trail across numerous rivers, valleys, peaks and plains. Our trek will eventually lead to Thyangboche, from where we shall make the final push to our goal of the glacial floor and sunlit valley that is the Everest Base Camp. If we have any energy reserves we can aim for the highpoint of Kalapathar (5,647m) with breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and glaciers including Mt. Everest.
I have paid for this trip myself, so I can promise you that every single penny of your money, together with all tax recovered through GiftAid, will go to the Prostate Cancer Research FoundationDonating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails.
Every penny counts, so whether you donate £1, £10 or £100, please just make a donation.Thank you.
Alastair
