A FARMER who lives near Chipping Sodbury is taking a tractor on a mammoth 500-mile road trip, to raise awareness of the disease which is expected to claim his life.
Andrew Gibson, who lives on the edge of the Badminton estate, was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and was given two years to live after he collapsed while refereeing a rugby match on April 2020.
The 58-year-old former Armed Forces and NHS paramedic had been experiencing “twinges” for some time before, and is taking to the road from South Gloucestershire to Lancashire to encourage more men, particularly farmers, to be aware of the warning signs of the disease.
He will also raise money for charity Prostate Cancer UK.
He said: “I took my health for granted.
“Even when I started to feel the odd twinge, stiffness and pain, it was put down to leading a highly active lifestyle – something I now know was a big, missed opportunity, which has cost me dearly.
“Research shows people living in rural areas – and farmers in particular – are less likely to engage in preventative health measures, including cancer screenings.
“This is due to many reasons, but one key factor is that many farmers simply prioritise work over personal health.
“I’m determined to spend the time I’ve got left to spread the word to the highly-active farming community not to dismiss the aches and pains, and to ‘harvest your prostate health’.
“If my story can help others to recognise or question their own symptoms and get tested, then I’ll be delighted.”
Tractor drive aims for £20,000 total
To drive home his message, Andrew will set off from the Badminton Estate at 8am on September 17, on a journey to Hoghton Tower, near Chorley, where he was based at the ambulance station.
The following day he will drive the return leg, finishing at the Bristol GenesisCare private outpatient cancer centre where he has been receiving extensive treatment, including chemotherapy and precision radiotherapy, since his diagnosis.
He said: “When I decided I wanted to set myself a fundraising challenge I had to think outside the box.
“I can’t run marathons or climb mountains any more. But I do love a road trip and as a country boy at heart there’s nothing more exciting to me than riding a tractor.”
Andrew has been loaned a tractor by agricultural dealers TH White for his trip, and hopes to raise £20,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.
Donations can be made online at Andrew’s JustGiving page.
More details on the awareness campaign can be found here.