A campaign to make more men aware of prostate cancer made tracks to Huddersfield railway station.
Train operator First TransPennine Express (FTPE) joined forces with men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of the disease among commuters.
FTPE staff and volunteers from the charity offered passengers advice on the disease, how to recognise symptoms and what to do if a family member or somebody close has been diagnosed with the condition.
Figures from Public Health England show that almost 3,400 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Yorkshire and the Humber and that almost 900 will die each year.
In Huddersfield and district alone, 165 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer with 39 of those dying from the disease.
FTPE is also supporting Men United, Prostate Cancer UK’s movement to combat the disease.
Mark Bishop, director of fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re extremely pleased to be partnering with FTPE on this awareness event. It's through events like this that the charity’s Men United army is growing stronger – making a real difference in furthering the fight against prostate cancer.
“This is the first of many initiatives planned and we look forward to working with our friends at FTPE.
As well as offering information to commuters, FTPE and Prostate Cancer UK handed out free Father’s Day-related gifts to passengers, including gingerbread men, Yorkie bars and trendy socks.
Will Munton, station manager, said 5.6m people travelled through Huddersfield station every year, adding: “With an average one in eight men being diagnosed, it’s highly likely many of those people will be – or know somebody who is – directly affected by the disease.
“Raising awareness through this event is just one of the things we’re doing as part of our longer-term partnership with the charity and we’ll be rolling out more events like this across our stations in the coming months.”
