Prostate United breaks £1 million barrier

Participants included managers Paul Heckingbottom, Paul Warne, Grant McCann, Graham Alexander and Michael Duff. More than £370,000 was raised, taking the total generated over the seven years of Prostate United to more than £1 million. 

On Wednesday evening, Burbeary, Gilpin and their wives attended a function at St James’s Palace, hosted by the Duchess of Gloucester, the Royal Patron of Prostate Cancer UK, in recognition of their achievements.

Gilipin, who is Head of Performance Services (Academy and Women’s) at Wolves, launched Prostate United in tribute to his late grandfather, who had died of prostate cancer 10 years earlier. At the time, Gilpin and Burbeary were working in tandem at Rotherham United, as Head of Medical and Head of Performance respectively.

In the first year, 2018, the duo raised £7,500. The following year, they opened the challenge up to the rest of football and Adam Hearn and Andy Young of Coventry City and Paul Parker from West Ham Ladies also took part. This time they raised about £8,500.

Every subsequent year, the challenge has grown, with the number of clubs and practitioners taking part booming, so much so that every team in the Premier League and the vast majority of the Football League took part this year.

Gilipin said: “What began with humble origins, in memory of my grandfather, has turned into something truly extraordinary. Two blokes running through the streets of Rotherham – who could have imagined that, just seven years later, we’d complete a couple of marathons, run 300km every October, and build an identity in Prostate United? 

“We’ve grown into a massive, passionate community of people coming together to support Prostate Cancer UK.  And now we can proudly say we’ve raised £1 MILLION! What a journey it’s been, powered by the collective effort of thousands of people across the country. Here’s to all the incredible support and teamwork that made this possible. The fight against prostate cancer is far from over, but together, we’re making a real difference.

“Ross and I are incredibly grateful to the team at Prostate Cancer UK for their unwavering support in scaling this challenge. The highlight of it all was the honour of being invited to St James’s Palace, where we had the privilege of sharing the room with some truly inspirational individuals none more so than charity Patron Duchess of Gloucester.”

Gilpin told TGG that Prostate United had galvanised a football industry that could sometimes be insular. 

“Often, practitioners are caught inside the bubble of their own clubs and there’s a reluctance to share secrets,” Gilipin explained. “Prostate United has brought everyone together and that’s been quite moving.

“We’ve had staff talking about the challenge on match days, we’ve had Chris Wilder wearing the t-shirt at his press conference and Peterborough United staff doing the challenge in Manchester United’s gym at Carrington.

“It’s been phenomenal and has shown what football can do when everyone joins together. Fans are also starting to get involved now and I think that will take Prostate United to another level in the years to come.”