Tackle Prostate Cancer Small Grants Programme

Tackle awarded funding by the National Lottery

Tackle Prostate Cancer, the voice of prostate cancer patients and their families in the UK have been awarded funding by the National Lottery for the project Tackling Prostate Cancer – peer-to-peer support for men with prostate cancer. The grant is for just under £238,000 over three years.

There are three main aims for this project:

  • to increase the number of patient-led cancer support groups, particularly in areas where there is currently a lack of provision;
  • to support and encourage existing groups and increase membership by at least 10%; and
  • to ensure that we are reaching out to all members of the community whatever their background

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. Many groups contributed to an online survey last year. The answers to which provided much of the background for the lottery application and helped towards its success.

Ken Mastris Chairman of Tackle Prostate Cancer said: “This is a really excellent start to 2020! It’s a great opportunity to help more men – and their families – feel less isolated, better supported and more empowered to navigate their cancer journey. It’s a big project and we would like your support implementing it. We’re very grateful to all those who helped us with the survey last year but particularly to former Chairman Roger Wotton who instigated and managed the project. This will be a lasting legacy to him.”

Prostate cancer is now a bigger killer than breast cancer, making prostate cancer the third biggest cancer killer in the UK. Every penny raised will make a difference, lives will be saved and more people will be aware of the need to be tested.

Along with the lottery funding Tackle will also be continuing to meet its objectives of campaigning on behalf of patients and raising awareness in the community. It will also enable the ‘Save a Dad’ initiative to be followed through in secondary schools where the aim is to get a discussion on prostate cancer in the National Curriculum, just as breast cancer is included today. Working through secondary schools Tackle would like to make teenagers aware that prostate cancer will impact 1 in 8 of their dads. The charity hopes that by educating the next generation about the importance of men being tested earlier it can help “Save a Dad”.

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