A Million Miles - the easy way!

Many of our readers will have followed the adventures of the Kilimanjaro Climbers and their fantastic fund-raising efforts last year.  That they raised nearly £300,000 was due to the sterling efforts of our many supporters and, as a direct result of your help, we were able to increase the level of the research grants to record levels.  While it is tremendously satisfying to be able to help fund-raisers, many supporters - and particularly the readers of UPDATE - want the opportunity to get involved as volunteers in fund-raising themselves, and in the sort of event that is open to everybody, young and old, that is simple and, above all, that is fun.

It was with these considerations in mind that Roger Plail, one of the Kilimanjaro Climbers, a staunch supporter and a Consultant Urologist, conceived an idea for an inclusive national fund-raising event that is elegantly simple, will offer volunteers as much of a challenge as they choose, will help generate funds and will keep our name in the public eye.  Roger even created a name for this event: a Million Prostate Miles.

The Million Prostate Miles event is straightforward.  Volunteer supporters would aim to cover one million sponsored miles, and a sponsored mile is simply one mile sponsored by one person for one pound.

These miles can be covered in any way possible: walking, flying, swimming, skateboarding, driving, whatever takes the imagination.  Indeed, we hope that people will think of unusual methods to generate publicity.

It will be a truly inclusive event: people can assist by partaking, by sponsoring another or by helping organise what is going to be a nationwide event, open to everyone, irrespective of age or gender.  And we will spread it over a year, with a launch event in September this year.

Covering a million miles sounds pretty terrifying and there are an awful lot of noughts in it! One way to achieve it is shown in the panel.  We already have our first volunteer - HRH The Duchess of Gloucester.

But what has this got to do with you?  Simple - we want volunteers as Group Leaders.  We want you to cover 36 sponsored miles, and to persuade others to do the same.  But above all, we want you to help us stop prostate diseases destroying lives.  If you are prepared to join in this exciting event as a Group Leader, please contact us post haste - by fax, phone, e-mail or letter.