A CAMPAIGN raising money for a state-of-the-art surgical machine for treating prostate cancer patients in Worcestershire is inviting people in the county to put their best feet forward in a weekend of fundraising.

As part of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust’s Rory the Robot campaign a Big Run, Ride and Ramble weekend is being held on the weekend of September 20 and 21, including a sponsored bike ride between Redditch’s Alexandra Hospital and Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Participants can cycle the 17 miles between the two hospitals, ride halfway and back again or complete a 34-mile round trip.

Donna Elkins works for Redditch-based high visibility clothing company Praybourne and will be taking part in the bike ride with her family.

“I wanted a personal challenge this year after hearing my boss Ian had been given the all clear from his battle with prostate cancer,” she said.

“I thought a bike ride would be an ideal way to raise funds for Rory and thank Ian for his support to me over the last few years with my hip problem.

“I know how vital it is that the people of Worcestershire have access to a robot.

“My husband and daughters Brian, Charlotte and Melissa and I are all looking forward to the ride.”

Anyone aged 12 or older is eligible to take part but under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Registration is £10 for an adult or £5 for a child. Every participant will receive a high-visibility tabard.

The Rory the Robot campaign is aiming to raise £1.6 million for surgical machine based at the Alexandra Hospital, which will be able to remove tumours with greater precision through five cuts around the prostate gland rather than open surgery.

This will mean less blood loss, less pain during surgery, reduced risk of complications and recovery times will fall from up to 12 weeks to between three and four.

The machine was developed by the US military to allow surgeons to operate remotely on soldiers injured in the field. It can also be used to treat head and neck cancer as well as heart surgery.

Prostate cancer kills one man every hour and by 2030 will be the most common form of the disease.

In Worcestershire 2,500 men are living with the disease, with up to 550 new cases diagnosed every year.

To donate to the campaign visit www.justgiving.com/rorytherobot or texting RORY97 and £amount to 70070.

For more information visit www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/rorytherobot.