Patient names racehorse after cancer
A prostate cancer suffer has bought a two-year-old colt and named him Prostate Awareness in order to raise awareness of the disease.
Colin Peach, 66, from Middlesbrough, was originally diagnosed with the disease in 2006.
He told H&H: “I had been toying with idea for a year or so and then in May I decided to go for it.”
“My father had prostate cancer but never spoke about it. I want to shout about it from the rooftops.
“My aim with the horse is to raise awareness so that more people get tested. It is such a simple test and all they need to do is ask their GP.”
The name has been approved by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and the horse is now in training at Foulrice Park Racing in North Yorkshire. Trainer, Patrick Holmes, told H&H that he is hopeful that he will race for the first time at York on 27 July.
“When Colin first mentioned the idea I was a little worried,” Patrick admitted. “I mean, Prostate Awareness is not like calling a horse good old Number 7.
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“But everyone that we have talked to has been very receptive and has taken on the message in the right way.
“It is fun to be apart of and if it makes one person aware and that one person survives because he gets tested then I think it’s job and done well.“
Mark Bishop, director at Prostate Cancer UK, told H&H that most people don’t know enough about the disease.
He said: “Thanks to Colin and others taking action, awareness of the disease is growing.
We wish Colin, and Prostate Awareness, all the very best and hope that their experience will inspire others to find out more about prostate cancer.”
Anyone concerned about prostate cancer can call Prostate Cancer UK’s confidential Helpline on 0800 074 8383 or visit www.prostatecanceruk.org.
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.