Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service have partnered up with Prostate Cancer UK to help support the leading men's health charity that aims to stop prostate cancer damaging the lives of men and their families.

Throughout the year, members of the service are planning to climb ladders, wash cars and go out of their way to raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK and raise awareness of the disease, that kills one man every 45 minutes in the UK, with the help of the charity's volunteer programme.

Every year Prostate Cancer UK invests money into research to find better treatments and develop better tests, to help save the thousands of men who lose their lives to prostate cancer each year.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Rob Barber said: "Firefighters by their very nature are competitive beings, so I can see our watches across the county embracing this opportunity to do something a little different whilst also raising money for a very important cause.

"Just recently one of our own firefighters passed away from cancer and so it has never been more important to every colleague in the Service to do what they can to prevent further families suffering a terrible loss.

"We will be sharing our fundraising plans in the weeks ahead and I ask you all to consider donating what you can to support charities such as Prostate Cancer UK. I hope we can all make a difference."

Tracey Pritchard, Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: "Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK and due to the impact of Covid-19, our life-saving research is at risk. However, the continued support of so many wonderfully generous and supportive people has enabled us to protect research into better tests and treatments, to stop prostate cancer being a killer.

"We want to make prostate cancer something that the next generation of men do not fear and will continue to stand side by side with men and their loved ones. We thank Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service for going that extra mile."