Background

Standing at the bar enjoying a pint with friends is something that we all like to do. And yet there comes that time when nature calls and a visit to the GENTS is of necessity. After making apologies to leave the group, a fellow members says ‘I will join you’.
Now this is the when it becomes a little more difficult, as whilst your friend performs easily you are left standing there waiting in the hope that nature will take its course. But despite the call nothing happens and after a short while it is time to zip up and return to the bar. Many of you may have experienced this, as its not long before the urge to pass water again necessitates a quick dash to the GENTS again and Oh what a relief.
These symptoms are a warning sign of an enlarged prostate and a signal that a visit to your doctor is called for. I was lucky as on investigation my prostate was of a benign enlarged type, but for some this could be something more serious and leaving a visit to your doctor is not a wise decision.
There will come a day when you will not be able to pass water and your bladder will expand from holding the normal 300 ml of urine to in my case 2.3 Litres that was most painful and called for a visit to A & E and an overnight stay in hospital. My prognosis was to undergo a ‘TURP’ operation that involves a surgeon coring out my prostate gland to improve my flow of urine. Wearing a Catheter for the best part of four months whilst awaiting my time slot for my operation is not something desirable, so be warned.
I appreciate that many of you will have experienced my tale of woe, but to those who have not taken any action I hope that my message here gets through; as treatment varies from one case to another and is improving with continued research.
Where we need your help!
Our National President Steve James chosen Charities ‘Prostate Cancer UK’ and ‘Prostate Cymru’ are already well known to you. In support of Steve, Sophie Shipway (my granddaughter) and myself will be taking a ride on the fastest zip wire in the world in Snowdonia on Saturday the 16th of September 2023 to raise funds for Steve’s charities. As a team, Sophie and I raised £3,500 a few years ago when we walked the Millennium Way 100 miles in aide of the Brain Tumor Charity. We are hoping to match that target if we can. So if you feel that you can support us no matter how small it would be appreciated by donating to the under mentioned link.
If we can make up a Team of 12 for a mid-week ride, then we can get a reduced price on the ride for £83.25 pp. though it may still be possible to negotiate a further reduction, so if anybody is interested in joining Sophie and myself please email me your interest to ‘axel42@hotmail.co.uk’. It could be so much more fun with a group and hopefully help to achieve our target.

Comment from National President Steve:
‘National President Steve recognizes the signs described by Mike being a sufferer of an enlarged prostate himself and said that he is delighted that Sophie and Mike have chosen to support his charity and wishes them all the very best as they zoom across the Snowdonia skyline’.
Finally, if you need to find more information on the ‘TURP’ procedure a link to the NHS Leaflet is provided below.
YICF
Mike Foley
Hon President
Moseley 41 Club
Email: axel42@hotmail.co.uk Mobile: +44(0)7400 333 144
To view the online version of the ‘TURP’ leaflet, type the text below into your browser: http://www.bus.org.uk/_userfiles/pages/files/Patients/Leaflets/TURP for benign.pdf
To Donate go to ‘JustGiving.com’ and search ‘Sophie Shipway’ that should open our JustGiving page for Prostate Cancer