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Run for the Future saved my life

21st August 2013 Print
Brian Waring and son David

A retired engineer who was diagnosed with prostate cancer after having a free PSA blood test at a Bristol charity event, is urging men not to ignore the warning signs.

Brian Waring, 67 from Downend, was spending the day as a Run for the Future volunteer course marshal in 2010 when he decided to have the test, which is offered free every year at Bristol Rotary’s autumn fundraising event for research into prostate cancer.

The PSA check is a test of prostate-specific antigen levels in the blood and sometimes a raised PSA level can be a sign of prostate cancer. A raised level was detected in

Mr Waring’s blood sample and led to further investigations, resulting in a positive diagnosis. He had his prostate removed through robotic surgery at Southmead Hospital the following May, and now has regular PSA tests which have all remained low.

Brian, a former Airbus engineer from Downend who subsequently joined Kingswood Rotary Club, said: “Run for the Future saved my life. I feel on top of the world, and I’m really pleased that I was there on the day and had the PSA test. I cannot praise Southmead Hospital highly enough: the robotic surgery was excellent and I was out of hospital after 24 hours.”

“I’ve been spreading the word about PSA testing to my family and friends. It’s usually the wives and partners who push the men to go to the doctors, but this is something that shouldn’t be ignored.”

Run for the Future 2013 takes place on Sunday 8th September, and Brian will be marshalling for the fourth time. The 5k event is open to people of all ages to run, walk or jog the course, and picnic on the Downs. This year it has an optional robot fancy-dress theme, reflecting the theme of robotic prostate surgery, with adult and child prizes for the best robot fancy dress on the day.

Since Bristol Rotary launched the event in 2006, Run for the Future has raised awareness about the symptoms of Prostate Cancer that men should look out for, and about the availability of simple tests to aid prostate cancer diagnosis, while generating nearly £250,000 for the the Bristol Urological Institute Prostate Cancer Appeal.

Mr Waring’s sons Dave, 38, and Mike, 41, are both taking part in Run for the Future for the third time this year, to support the event that helped to save their father’s life.

Dave said: “We are all so thankful that he had the PSA test - he was not ill at all so no one knew the cancer was there. It is really a good example of why precautionary testing is so important, and my brother and I have been advised to start having PSA tests when we reach 45 years old. My two uncles, dad’s brothers, have also been tested since his diagnosis, though thankfully their test results were negative.”

“After our dad got the treatment he needed, Run for the Future seemed like a really good opportunity to raise some money for a really important cause. I’m not a runner but my brother, Mike, and I both feel that this is our way of giving something back to the team that did so much for our dad.”

Brian’s wife Pat, 64, is joining their sons in the race for the second time this September, as well as a number of other family members.

Free PSA testing at Run for the Future is carried out by Spire Bristol Hospital, who also sponsor the event. Registration costs £15 for adults and £7.50 for children. To find out more or to register visit runforthefuture.org.

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

Brian Waring and son David