A Carlisle United fan is running 5km every day this month to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.
Reece Oxland, 28, said the charity is close to his heart and he wanted to do something to support them.
The Carlisle-born United supporter will be tackling 5k routes near his home village of Upholland, near Skelmersdale in Lancashire, each day in October – often in his Blues kit.
He has a fundraising target of £250 – and the aim to raise awareness of prostate cancer and the charity.
Reece, who grew up in Penrith and worked and studied in Carlisle, said: “It’s a cause very close to my heart with members of my family being directly affected by prostate cancer and other forms of that horrendous disease.
“I just hope that by taking part I can help another football fan to avoid a potentially unavoidable death.
“I just think it could be someone’s dad, brother, grandad or mate that I’ve stood or sat next to on a match day and that by making more people aware, it could help them to be treated sooner and have a better chance of staying with us.”
Reece said awareness of the disease is paramount, having been shocked by some of the statistics around prostate cancer.
“I just thought if I can help in any way to get someone to check in with their GP for a diagnosis, and avoid heartache for a fellow Blues fan’s family, then having stiff calf muscles for a while doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
“I’ll be completing the 5Ks each day around where I live, either morning or evening. Thankfully it’s quite rural so I’m very lucky with the routes.
“I’m going to be posting updates on my JustGiving page each day showing my route on the Nike Run App when I’ve completed the runs, and will post pictures of me actually doing it – wearing some form of our brilliant club in my clothing – just to give me that added boost.”
Reece’s challenge is part of the Prostate United 2024 initiative launched by Prostate Cancer UK, which aims to get football fans active together to raise important funds to go towards researching the disease and supporting families.
Prostate cancer kills one man ever 45 minutes, the charity says, and one in eight men get prostate cancer.
To sponsor Reece, visit his JustGiving page HERE
For more information on Prostate Cancer UK, visit the website HERE, and the Prostate United 2024 website is HERE
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