Portsmouth fan to cycle 130 miles to Sunderland game to raise money for prostate cancer research

Robin Pearson is raising money for Prostate Cancer Research by cycling from his home in Exeter to Fratton Park on Saturday, February 1 to watch the Sunderland game.

The 63-year-old said: ‘I wanted to do something to help people, so I decided to cycle from my house to Portsmouth.

‘It’s around 130 miles which is the amount of people diagnosed with prostate cancer every day. I’m also the same age as people that usually get diagnosed with it so it’s at the forefront of my mind.’

Robin who said his father had previously encountered prostate problems will be setting off on his journey to Fratton Park on Thursday morning.

He’ll stop over in Dorset on Thursday evening, before cycling to Eastleigh on Friday and winding up his journey at Fratton Park on Saturday before kick-off.

‘I was born in Cornwall but my father was in the RAF and we ended up settling down in Bedhampton near Havant, so I spent the majority of my formative years in Portsmouth, I went to college there and I’ve supported Pompey ever since.

‘When people ask me where I’m from I always tell them I’m from Portsmouth’ he said.

The retired Portsmouth fan became a shareholder in the club when the Portsmouth Supporters Trust bought the side in April 2013.

To donate to Robin’s bike ride visit justgiving.com/fundraising/robin-pearson2

Portsmouth Football Club has previously ran testing days at Fratton Park to encourage men to be checked for prostate cancer in partnership with the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal.

Grandfather-of-Fourteen Mick Turnbull said the club has saved his life after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer following his test at the stadium last March.

The 61-year-old previously told The News: ‘I think the Barry Kilby Appeal is fantastic and there should be a mobile unit outside all football grounds to catch the footfall of fans.

‘The NHS provides tests for women but I think men need to get regular tests as well. Having units by football grounds and pubs would make it easy for us to get tested quickly.

If you need advice, or are worried about prostate cancer you can get in touch with the Prostate Cancer Support Organisation.