Last year, our colleague and friend Chris Caffrey, Operations Director for OU4 West Midlands, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Chris has very kindly let me share his story

“In October 2025 I was diagnosed with Metastatic Prostate Cancer, meaning it has spread outside of the prostate and is incurable, as you can imagine at the age of 45 with no family history or signs of change this was a huge shock to myself, my family, and friends, considering this disease affects 1 in 8 men normally age 60 plus. It’s been a difficult and challenging few months and you keep asking yourself why. That said in this period of all our lives and on a personal positive , treatments have progressed and I am responding well and there is no reason why I can’t live a normal life and reach an age as if I didn’t have the disease, everybody has been so supportive and that has put me back on the journey of my life.

Prior to my diagnosis Cancer was just a word, although I had lost close family members it only resonates when it hits you personally, and you ask yourself what you can do to further support the excellent work that the Cancer research and medical teams do, without previous donations and fundraising events to progress treatments my outlook may have been different, that’s why I am committed to completing the 56 Mile challenge in February to further support research, treatments and hopefully eradicate this horrible disease for our future generations. I can’t thank my work colleagues enough who will be supporting the challenge and undertaking the 56 miles alongside me.

In solidarity with Chris, and in support of the vital work carried out by Prostate Cancer Research, a group of us - Dan Roberts, David Attfield, John Boyle, Mark Hanks, Debbie Savage, Joe Loscalzo, Chris Caffrey, Simon Austin, Steph Firth, Jon Sawyer and I have committed to taking part in the 56 Miles in February challenge. Our aim is to raise awareness and contribute to research that will improve the lives of men and families affected by prostate cancer.