Banbury woman uses running challenge to raise more than £2,000 for Prostate Cancer UK in memory of her father

More than 10,000 runners, including Emma Laddiman, 28 from Banbury, have gone the extra mile and completed Prostate Cancer UK’s new virtual fundraising challenge, Run the Month: Marathon Edition, helping to raise an incredible £2.2m.

Throughout the challenge, Prostate Cancer UK introduced a Runner of the Week series, highlighting some of the challenges’ key participants across social media, and due to Emma’s incredible efforts, including raising nearly £2,000 for the charity, she was named Prostate Cancer UK’s first ‘Runner of the Week’.

Emma is all too familiar with prostate cancer and was inspired to take part in Run the Month: Marathon Edition as her dad, Phillip, was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer in 2017.

Less than two years later he sadly passed away.

Emma said: “I decided to get involved in Prostate Cancer UK’s Run the Month: Marathon Edition because my hero, my daddy, was diagnosed with the disease, which had spread to his bones.

"We were told dad had five years, but we were only given less than two with him. I never want another girl to lose her daddy the way I did.

“I am very humbled to be recognised for my efforts and crowned 'Runner of the Week' as part of Prostate Cancer UK’s new series. I’m over the moon to have played my part in raising over £2.2m for this very worthy charity. I really hope we have made a huge difference to everyone affected by prostate cancer.”

To sponsor Emma you can use the following web link: https://runthemonthme.prostatecanceruk.org/fundraising/emma-laddimans-2021-challenges-in-memory-of-pTracey Pritchard, director of fundraising and supporter engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud that Emma joined our team of amazing runners for the Run the Month: Marathon Edition, in January.

"Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK, and the Covid-19 pandemic has made living with a diagnosis only harder. "

About prostate cancer:

- More than 11,500 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year – that's one man every 45 minutes

- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men – and now the most commonly diagnosed of all cancers in the UK.

- A 30-second online risk checker is available at prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker 

- Prostate cancer mainly affects men over 50 and the risk increases with age. But the risk is higher for black men or men with a family history of prostate cancer, so they may wish to speak to their GP from age 45.

- One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. This raises to one in four for black men.

- Prostate cancer often has no symptoms so men shouldn’t wait to see changes before they act.

- Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: www.prostatecanceruk.org. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 8pm on Wednesdays.

Tracey added: “The participants, including Emma, have well and truly shown how families, friends and communities can work together, locally and across the UK to help save lives – especially during a difficult period.

“Hard times show what people stand for. When the future is uncertain and the choices are tough, we stand for men with prostate cancer. We thank Emma for all her incredible efforts and hope she can now enjoy a well-earned rest!”