A cancer survivor who feels he wanted to raise awareness and ‘give something back’ has organised a ‘shave-off’ as his first ever fundraising event.
Fred Cammack, 68, of Cherry Tree Walk, Linslade, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March 2012 and two years on wants to raise awareness and funds to support the charity that help people to deal with the diagnosis and treatment.
He said: “It just suddenly became the right time to do something and I knew I wanted to give something back. I felt as though I owed something to someone. I am an impulsive guy, but I am naive about these kinds of things. I have never done anything like this before, but I thought, why not?”
It took Fred three months to decide whether or not to go ahead with the prostate operation as he took time to think about whether he wanted to go through with it or not.
He added: “It is a very difficult decision to make, so you have to feel in yourself that you are making the right decision about having the operation.
“I wanted to tell all of my family about it first, as they are all boys, I didn’t want anyone of them to have the same problem.
He has now lost over a stone in the last year as he celebrates beating cancer and describes himself as “fit and healthy”, but feels driven to make people aware of the condition and tell them to not be afraid to go to the doctors. If any men reading this article are having problems going to the toilet often during the night, please go to the doctors and get checked out.”
Fred will have his ‘shave-off’ on Saturday (December 22) at 3pm at Unique Cuts of North Street Leighton Buzzard. If you would like to sponsor Fred and help to raise money for his cause, make cheques payable to Prostate Cancer UK. A total of £150 has been pledged so far. If you’d like to add to that contact the LBO.
Amanda Devlin