THE first ever Fishathon held by The Prostate Cancer Charity cast off to a great start on Saturday 27^th September when 70 finalists (seasoned and first-time anglers) competed for the 280 specially-tagged carp to hook some great prizes including cash, fishing equipment and a Rover Tourer Estate.

A keen angler netted the catch of the day when he landed a carp – and won a Rover Tourer Estate in the Express Newspaper Group sponsored event in association with The Angling Times and MG Rover.

Alan Blohm, 47, caught the 1lb 8oz fish just an hour into the event. The success had special poignancy for Mr Blohm, whose father died of prostate cancer two years ago. He said: “It was my first bite of the day, I really can’t believe it.”

Hundreds of people turned up for the final at the Glebe Fishery in Leicestershire to help raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer, which is now the most common male cancer in the UK.

Chris Tarrant, Patron of The Prostate Cancer Charity and Host of Fishathon commented: “People need to be much more aware of prostate cancer and the work of the Charity and Fishathon is a good way to achieve that.”

Chris Tarrant congratulates Alan Blohm.

John Neate, Chief Executive of The Prostate Cancer Charity said: “We are really pleased with the positive feedback from our first ever Fishathon competition. This was a brilliant opportunity for us to raise awareness of prostate cancer and reach one of our key audiences. We are very happy with the outcome and would like to thank everyone who took part and helped make it such a success.”

The Prostate Cancer Charity provides ‘hope for the future’ through the funding of scientific research into prostate cancer and ‘practical help and support for today’ through support and information services for men with prostate cancer and their families and friends. 

The Charity provides a confidential Helpline 0845 300 8383, which is operated by experienced information and support nurses.

* Entry forms are available NOW at www.prostate-cancer.org.uk. Finals day will be Saturday 28th August 2004. You can enter as many times as you like to win BIG PRIZES. General enquiries to fishathon@aol.com

Some 25,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. This increase highlights the urgent need to make men more aware the symptoms of prostate cancer and for men to seek medical advice if they are at all concerned about their health. A British man has a 1 in 13 lifetime risk of developing prostate cancer. Those with a family history of prostate cancer are particularly at risk. Warning signs for prostate cancer are shared with a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and include:

• Difficulty or pain when passing urine.
• The need to pass urine more often.
• Broken sleep due to increase visits to pass urine.
• Waiting for long periods before the urine flows.
• The feeling that the bladder has not emptied fully.
 
The Prostate Cancer Charity
3 Angel Walk
Hammersmith
LONDON W6 9HX
General information: 020 8222 7622
Confidential helpline: 0845 300 8383
Website: www.prostate-cancer.org.uk
Email: info@prostate-cancer.org.uk