A FORMER Pershore cancer patient is pulling on his walking boots to trek 40 miles across Worcestershire to raise funds for the Rory the Robot Appeal.
David Brown was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017 following a routine blood test at his GP surgery.
Surgery to remove his prostate was performed robotically at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton in September 2018.
Mr Brown is now preparing to walk from Droitwich to Broadway on June 23 to raise vital funds for a surgical robot for prostate cancer patients in the county.
The 63-year-old, who works as a fleet manager at OGL Computer Services Group in Stourport, said: “I was able to choose to have my prostate removed using robotic surgery rather than conventional surgery.
“There are major benefits in prostate removal using robotic surgery, including less blood loss, smaller incisions and a much faster recovery time.
“Currently Worcestershire does not have the surgical robotic system which was used to perform my prostate removal but the Rory the Robot Appeal aims to change this.
“Whilst I received wonderful care at Wolverhampton New Cross Hospital I am hoping to raise as much money as possible to support the appeal which would enable men such as myself with prostate cancer to be operated on locally in Worcestershire.”
Mr Brown added he was inspired to carry out his challenge after going for a walk on Bredon Hill just six weeks after his surgery.
“I met a couple who were walking the 40-mile Wychavon Way over a four-day period,” he said.
“I told them about my recent surgery, and it transpired that man had also undergone robotic surgery two years prior.”
“It was then I decided I would plan to walk the whole 40 miles of the Wychavon way in a single day to raise money for Rory. If I had had conventional surgery it is unlikely I would have been able to climb to the top of Bredon Hill less than six weeks after my operation.”
Anyone who would like to support David on his journey can catch up with him at a number of stops en route including in the heart of Pershore at about 1.30pm on the day.
The Rory the Robot appeal was set up by a grateful patient and has already raised around £450,000 over the last five years. Visit www.rorytherobot.com or @RorytheRobot on Twitter or @RoryRobot on Facebook
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-brown272 to sponsor David.
