I'm taking on Run the Month: Marathon Edition!

PURE GYM 2 GYM PROSTATE CHALLENGE

Raised

£1,655

Distance

436.99 mi

I'm running 26.2 miles throughout January for Prostate Cancer UK.

Steve & Niki’s Marathon Challenge for Prostate Cancer

Hi everyone,

Here’s a bit of background about why this challenge means so much to us.

2025 marks 50 years of friendship between me and my best mate, Derek Watt. We’ve been inseparable since school—drinking, socializing, playing football and even working together for the past 32 years. So, when Derek was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March this year, it hit us both hard. I tried my best to stay positive for him, but deep down, I was terrified of losing my pal far too soon.

Thankfully, the incredible Urology team at the Hallamshire Hospital, led by Dr. Marcus Cumberbatch, were absolutely first-class. After his surgery in July, Dez was back at work by September—an outcome we’re so grateful for. Dez can’t thank the team enough for their care and expertise.

He’d love to take on this challenge himself to show his appreciation, but a knee operation a few years ago means running or long-distance walking isn’t an option for him. So, I’ve stepped up to do it for him—it’s the least I can do because, without that brilliant team at Hallamshire, I might not still have my best mate.

The challenge? Niki and I will be running a marathon on January 14th, my 62nd birthday, with a goal to complete it in one day! Niki has her own personal connection to prostate cancer—her brother Mark Smith is currently battling it—so this cause is just as close to her heart.

We’re training hard, putting in the work at Bootcamp and PureGym, and we’re determined to make this happen. But we need your support to make it count. Every penny raised will go towards supporting the amazing team that saved Derek and continue to help so many others facing prostate cancer.

So, please, if you can, donate to our JustGiving page and help us give back to the people who gave us so much. Let’s do this for Derek, for Mark and for everyone affected by prostate cancer.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Steve & Niki

#MarathonChallenge #ProstateCancerAwareness #TeamHallamshire #50YearsOfFriendship #BootcampFamily