Lord-Lieutenant takes on Melton parkrun to raise awareness of prostate cancer

Mike Kapur was accompanied by a group of ex-footballers known as the ‘Silver Foxes’, who are part of the Leicester City in the Community group based at the King Power Stadium.

They joined regular runners on the 5km course in Melton Country Park at an event which is held every Saturday morning at 9am.

Mr Kapur has twice visited the Melton Prostate Cancer Support Group to give a talk to members and he suggested they join him in doing the parkrun at his latest visit.

The group’s organiser, Bob White, told the Melton Times: “There was an excellent turn out on the day on top of the normal park runners, with numerous people wearing T-shirts displaying our Leicestershire and Rutland Charity's logo ‘PROSTaid’ along with ‘Melton Prostate Cancer Support Group’.

“It was a great day in the very warm sunshine, enjoyed by all, and it helped to promote the Melton group.”

The group meet on the first Wednesday of every month, from 7pm to 9pm at its new venue - The Phoenix project building recently completed at Melton Mowbray Indoor Bowls Club, on Bowling Green in the town.

Its 100 members are all men in Melton diagnosed with prostate cancer who either still come to the group meetings or have been in the past – each meeting is attended by, on average, more than 50 of the members.

"At every meeting we have a prostate cancer consultant/urologist and one of the prostate cancer specialist nurses from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust who provide talks and support on all aspects of prostate cancer,” added Bob.

“We have been running the group now for the past 10 years, and it is our 10th anniversary in October, when we expect to provide something a bit special for members.”

A spokesperson for the Lord-Lieutenant told the Melton Times: “This is part of his new initiative to take part in a Parkrun run every month in his capacity as Lord-Lieutenant to raise awareness of active living and an important health issue.”