A simple PSA blood test saved my life. I'm determined to keep running and running, for those who never got that chance. I know it won't be easy, but a few hours of hell are nothing in comparison to knowing early detection could have saved a loved one's life - Danny Bedingfield

#LAPS4LIVES is a tribute to men and their families affected by prostate cancer - behind every lap is a story of courage and hope. Your generous gift today turns that courage into education, support and care.  

A 23-year European study confirms PSA testing stops men from dying from prostate cancer, yet New Zealand still refuses to fund even a small-scale screening pilot. The evidence is clear, the cost mimimal, and while we wait men are dying. Act now and help Danny in his bid to raise $1.6M to support Kiwi men and their families, the same amount experts say is all that is needed to fund one year of a pilot prostate cancer screening programme.     

Prostate cancer survivor Danny Bedingfield is taking on one of the most brutal endurance challenges in Aotearoa New Zealand to prove a point that could save hundreds of men’s lives.

His goal? To run more than 160 km, for more than 24 hours, in a bid to raise $1.6 million to support those affected by prostate cancer and the amount experts say would fund the first year of a PSA screening pilot that could save the lives of hundreds of Kiwi men.

Danny was diagnosed with prostate cancer at just 37, only months after his father Phil died from the same disease. A routine PSA test caught it early enough to save him, but sadly Phil wasn’t given the same opportunity.

“Every lap I run, I intend to carry the name of a man whose life was cut short by prostate cancer,” says Danny. “I can run because early detection through a simple PSA test saved mine. I’m determined to keep running and running for those who never got that chance.

Why LAPS4LIVES? Watch Danny's heartfelt message, recorded on what would have been his father's birthday, and eve of his own 50th. 

My name is Kristine and I lost my husband Bruce to prostate cancer. I didn't have to. 

A lot of men avoid going to the doctor. My Bruce was not one of them. We were both nurses and would regulalry get checked by our GP. Even though his PSA levels were rising, we were wrongly told that it was nothing to worry about, and prostate cancer wasn't something that was likely to kill Bruce. 

My Bruce died at 66 years old. He was my soulmate, we were going to grow old together. He wanted to live so much, and he had so much to live for. If he had been sent to a specialist sooner, if we had a national prostate cancer screening programme, I might still have my husband with me.  

Bruce and Kristine were planning their retirement and looking forward to a long and happy life together before Bruce was diagnosed. Kristine is now a fierce advocate of prostate cancer screening in his honour. 

Every day, 10 Kiwis like Danny and Bruce, will be told they have prostate cancer, tragically 2 of them will have their life cut short by the disease. With your help we can write more success stories like Danny's and fewer tragedies like his Phil and Bruce's.

“The government and health agencies have an open invitation on their desk to join the current world-leading international programme of prostate cancer screening pilots and are ignoring it. This makes no sense.”

Peter Dickens, Chief Executive, Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ

LAPS4LIVES is a tribute to men and their families affected by prosate cancer - behind every lap is a story of courage and hope. Your donation turns that courage into education, support and care for Kiwis living with prostate cancer every day.