29 year-old Kayleigh Davies from Skipton is getting ready to swim the English Channel to help a cause close to her heart. Kayleigh has been inspired by two of her father’s friends who have Prostate cancer to raise awareness for Tackle Prostate Cancer. Kayleigh is also putting on a ball on 13th October in Skipton.
Kayleigh said: “I am swimming the channel and organising a ball for Tackle Prostate Cancer because I have seen the effects of this disease. Men are dying daily because they are not routinely checked by GP’s for prostate cancer.”
Despite suffering from Auto Immune Disease Kayleigh has been training daily for the last two years to undertake the swim of her life time. It is anticipated swimming the Channel will take 17-20 hours to complete. As a warm up Kayleigh took part in the Lake Windermere 5k Race on 10th June and will also be taking part in the One Way Windermere on 2nd September. Kayleigh is prone to chest infections and gets sick in the sea which makes this even more challenging. She will be doing further sponsored open water swims over the summer culminating in swimming the English Channel as part of a 4 person relay team called North Yorkshire Dolphins on 20th June. Accompanying Kayleigh will be Adrian Hawley from Huddersfield, Mark Seddon from Ilkley and Zobair Hussain from Skipton.
Kayleigh added: “I have personally seen the effects of this devastating disease as it has affected friends and family and believe that it is important that we do everything that we can to fight and ‘tackle’ the illness.”
Tackle Prostate Cancer is a patient-led charity addressing the real issues people face when they are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and helping people to cope with their diagnosis and treatment. As a National Federation, Tackle has 90 support groups across the country, representing some 15,000 members.
Tackle have recently launched their inaugural national cycling event ‘Cycle to the Moon, Save a Dad’ – a major fundraising initiative that will encourage people of all ages to get on their bikes and raise awareness and money for the fight against prostate cancer.
Cycle to the Moon is a chance for members of the public to show their support through their cycling miles either on the roads, in the gym, at home or on outdoor trails. The event is open to all ages regardless of ability. It is designed to be a fun, healthy activity raising funds on behalf of Tackle
Prostate Cancer as well as encouraging the next generation to participate. It also aims to raise awareness and encourage men at risk of prostate cancer to get tests and earlier diagnosis. The campaign’s target is £250,000 – £1 for every mile between Earth and the Moon. Prostate cancer is now a bigger killer than breast cancer, making prostate cancer the third biggest cancer killer in the UK. Every penny Kayleigh raises will make a difference, lives will be saved and more people will be aware of the need to be tested. The money will help the charity continue to meet its objectives of campaigning on behalf of patients and raising awareness in the community.
Kayleigh has set up a Just Giving page and Facebook page for her swims.
Roger Wotton chairman of Tackle Prostate Cancer says: “We know how devastating the diagnosis of prostate cancer can be. Raising awareness will hopefully see more men being tested earlier, and help accelerate a reduction in mortality figures. Prostate cancer doesn’t just affect the man diagnosed – it affects his whole family. This is a fantastic challenge Kayleigh has set herself. A true inspiration to others she and she deserves all our support. Go girl!” Kayleigh added: “I would swim all around the world to make a difference and help raise awareness.”
To sponsor Kayleigh’s swimming challenge, visit her fundraising page.
