Cyclists go extra mile to help raise awareness of prostate disease across Scotland

A group of 8 cyclists has completed a round Scotland cycle ride in support of the charity Prostate Scotland and to help its work to raise awareness of prostate cancer and prostate disease. The ride took them from Edinburgh via Stirling, Fort William, Inverness, Nairn, Ballater, Perth and finished in Edinburgh on 1st July having started on 26th June.

The team of cyclists aimed through the ride to help raise awareness of prostate cancer which is Scotland's most common cancer in men and also of prostates disease, which can affect nearly one man in two over the age of 50 and to also raise some funds towards the charity's work.

The riders finished their ride at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh, which provides prostate treatment services throughout the Lothians and Borders as well as hosting Scotland's first male cancer centre. They were met on arrival by the Western General Hospital Director of Operations Jane Todd and doctors and nurses treating the disease at the hospital, some of whom recently ran the Edinburgh Marathon in aid of the charity, as well as by friends and supporters.

Adam Gaines, director of Prostate Scotland, and himself one of the riders said: We teamed up to undertake this ride to help support the charity and its work to raise awareness of prostate cancer and prostate disease, which affects so many people right across Scotland. The greater the awareness of prostate disease and the earlier that men can be diagnosed the greater the chances of successful treatment. I would like to thank the riders for going the extra mile and giving up their time and energy to support this worthwhile cause, and to all our supporters for their generous donations, including the doctors and nurses who also raised funds by running in the marathon'.

Alan McNeill Consultant Urological Surgeon and Lead Urology Clinician at the Western General Hospital and a founder of Prostate Scotland said:'Prostate disease affects nearly one in two men over middle age and prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in Scotland. Prostate disease, however, is too rarely spoken about and there is a real need to raise awareness of it and this cycle ride will help spread the message across Scotland'.