Over 80 golfers came together at The Addington Golf Club, Surrey, recently for Prostate Cancer UK’s first-ever golf day focussed on raising awareness of prostate cancer in the Black community.
The event, organised by Prostate Cancer UK’s Black Health Equity team alongside Ray Nyabola of Black British Golfers and Mark Henry of the African Caribbean Golf Association, sold out and saw players enjoy a day of golf, camaraderie and purpose – all while spotlighting a disease that disproportionately affects Black men.
FAMOUS FACES
Those in attendance included Premier League legend Andrew Cole and radio and television presenter, DJ Spoony.
Black men face double the risk of prostate cancer, with 1 in 4 likely to be diagnosed in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 8 for other men.
Despite the disease being curable if caught early, outdated NHS guidelines and health inequities mean too many black men are diagnosed too late and miss out on potentially life-saving treatments.
Nyabola, Founder of Black British Golfers, said he hopes the event is the first of many and why raising awareness in the black community is so important: “This event proves the power of golf beyond the fairways.
The game has always been about community and we showed how it can also be a catalyst for life-saving conversations. We’re proud to stand alongside Prostate Cancer UK to drive awareness where it’s most needed.”
GREAT ATTENDANCE
Henry, Chair of the African Caribbean Golf Association, added: “The turnout at The Addington says a lot about how important the messaging is in the black community and demonstrates the appetite for combining sport with purpose.
For us, it’s about ensuring Black men understand their risk and feel empowered to act. Golf brings people together, and today was about uniting passion for the game with action on health.”
Prostate Cancer UK is encouraging golf clubs, associations and players to support future events and direct men to the charity’s risk checker tool at prostatecanceuk.org/risk to save lives.
GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS
“Golf is the perfect bridge to reach men at risk and it can open up conversations in a familiar environment and helps us deliver critical messages that can save lives,” said Kevin Howell, Black Health Equity and Engagement Officer at Prostate Cancer UK.
“We know prostate cancer is curable if it’s caught early, but too many black men are at risk of dying because they’re being diagnosed too late. Not only that,
Black men in their 60s who get a later diagnosis are 14% less likely than white men of the same age to receive potentially life-saving treatments on the NHS. This was our first Black community golf day, and it won’t be the last,” he added.
For more information on the wider Prostate Cancer UK golf programme and or help and advice in organising your own golf day, visit www.prostatecanceruk.org/golf.
Golfers can find out their risk of prostate cancer and what to do about it in 30 seconds by visiting prostatecanceuk.org/risk
