Free prostate health screenings for men at local leisure centres
Birmingham Community Leisure Trust (BCLT) has announced that it will be funding free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) checks for male customers and employees aged over 40 at the 10 leisure facilities the trust operates on behalf of Birmingham City Council.
This health initiative is for people who work at or use Beeches Pool & Fitness Centre, Billesley Tennis & Fitness Centre, Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre, Erdington Leisure Centre, Fox Hollies Leisure Centre, Ladywood Leisure Centre, Northfield Leisure Centre, Stechford Leisure Centre, Wyndley Leisure Centre and Alexander Stadium.
The PSA tests will take place on the following dates:
March 7 at Cocks Moors Woods Leisure Centre, 10am to 2pm.
April 18 at Alexander Stadium, 10am to 2pm.
BCLT and its operating partner Serco Leisure are working with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust, via its My PSA Tests service, to provide all qualifying employees and customers with a free prostate cancer test, which measures the level of PSA in the blood. Elevated PSA levels can indicate a prostate condition, making this screening an important step in the fight against the disease.
Prostate Cancer UK reports that prostate cancer is now the most common cancer among UK men. Recent high-profile cases, such as Sir Chris Hoy and former Prime Minister David Cameron, have raised awareness of the condition.
Steve Nelson, the Director of Leisure at Serco Leisure said: “A former colleague of mine, Justin Butlin, lost his battle with prostate cancer in early 2024, and I clearly remember the words he often said to me: ‘Steve, make sure this doesn’t happen to someone else. Make sure you get yourself tested and encourage others to get themselves checked early’.
“Due to lockdowns resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, a scheduled health check for Justin was cancelled. Had this examination occurred as planned, his cancer may have been detected at an earlier stage. Early detection is widely recognised as critical, particularly for prostate cancer, which has a high survival rate when identified promptly.
“Unfortunately, by the time Justin received his diagnosis, the disease had progressed to stage 4. Throughout his illness, he demonstrated resilience and maintained a positive outlook, dedicating significant effort to campaigning and fundraising for prostate cancer awareness. This initiative is dedicated in Justin’s memory.”
Mark Reynolds, Contract Manager for BCLT added: “For our employees, there will be posters displayed at each centre with details on how to sign up. Customers will be informed by email, and sent a unique code, which they can use to book a slot. I would encourage all male employees and customers over 40 to sign up – this is just a simple blood test, but it could save your life.”
BCLT are funding the first 100 tests for customers. Once that number has been reached, people can still book a test by paying a £26 fee. To book a test at a BCLT centre, see here.
For more information about prostate cancer, please visit Prostate Cancer UK’s website: httpprostatecanceruk.org
