Charity walk for prostate cancer research raises £300,000

By Kelsey McCabe

A charity walk for prostate cancer research raised more than £300,000 this weekend.

More than 1,800 walkers participated in Prostate Cancer UK’s annual March for Men along the South Bank of the River Thames at Battersea Park on Sunday.

Laura Kerby, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Our slogan this year was ‘it’s so much more than a walk in the park’, and that is so true. We are really proud of March for Men, it’s such a special event and this year didn’t disappoint.”

Since March for Men’s launch in 2017, more than 17,000 participants have raised roughly £3million toward research for prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men.

Among this year’s walkers was actor Colin McFarlane, 62, known for his role as Gillian Loeb in The Dark Knight trilogy, as well as for his voice work on ITV’s game show The Cube.

Mr McFarlane, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022, walked alongside journalist Chris Davies, 76, from Bromley, who was also diagnosed with prostate cancer after he heard Mr. McFarlane’s story during a radio interview and decided to take a cautionary visit to his general practitioner.

Mr McFarlane said: “I love working alongside Prostate Cancer UK and one of the best parts of that is meeting people – and it was wonderful to hear stories from so many walking on the day.

“Some were inspiring, others were heartbreaking, but we are never alone, we all share a common bond and a desire to change the game for men.”

Mr. McFarlane and Mr. Davies spoke together on stage before the walk began, discussing the importance of awareness and early diagnosis.

Mr Davies said: “It’s been an incredibly humbling experience to meet Colin and share my story far and wide.

“I’m just so glad I listened to the radio that day last year. It changed my life.”

Pictured top: Colin McFarlane and Chris Davies cut the starting ribbon at Battersea Park (Picture: Rosie Lonsdale)