WREXHAM PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP
MONTHLY REPORT – 6th MAY 2026
•A record turnout of 40 members, including one new member, made this month’s meeting one of the most engaging yet. Several apologies were noted.
•Our monthly guest speaker was the inspirational Kainat Jones from Law Firm Allington Hughes who provided a thorough presentation focusing on the importance of understanding the need for ensuring we are all in a better place after leaving our loved ones behind. Kainat talked through the thorny topics of Last Will and Testament, Probate, Power of Attorney etc and I observed looking around, many of us looking quite sheepish and I expect a large number of us will be looking to check our current plans.
•Chief fundraiser Mark Connolly shared the plans for his 1in 8 sponsored walk around Wrexham starting and finishing at the Turf on Sat 31st May, it will be followed by a raffle and entertainment. Sponsor forms were provided and I will share shortly the Justgiving link.
•Plans are progressing to host a PSA Testing event in early June.
•I expressed my gratitude to Darland Community for presenting us with a £150 cheque but remained puzzled by one sent by a Mr P. Jones
•Mal and Phil shared the outcome of our meeting with our labour MP Andrew Ranger which was showcased in a recent edition of the Evening Leader. A summary is shown below.
Andrew Ranger MP met with Mal Williams and Phil Jones from Wrexham Prostate Cancer Support Group and stated they have over 140 members and it is the largest group in the UK. They have a fantastic track record in campaigning for and achieving improvements for those men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer for example the implementation of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tracker system in Wales, reducing wait times for blood test results from weeks to just hours.
Through extensive fundraising efforts, Mr Ranger heard how the group has raised £85,000 towards a HIFU (High-Intensity Focal Treatment) and Cryotherapy machine. They propose that the machine could be used across the Maelor, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd and they have business case ready. The group also raised concerns with Mr Ranger regarding Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s policy that sees men needing prostate removal travelling to London via taxi, a journey of more than 4 hours each way. Patients have described this experience as lonely and degrading especially when they are retuning with a catheter fitted. The Wirral’s hospital is an alternative option for the procedure with the benefit of being closer to North East Wales and therefore easier for family to support those having treatment. Andrew Ranger MP said, “We are lucky to have such a proactive group in Wrexham supporting those with a prostate cancer diagnosis. I have raised the importance of wider screening in parliament and also with the Health Secretary along with many parliamentary colleagues. I have now written to the Health Board to ask for a meeting to discuss the HIFU machine business plan as well as the London taxi policy. In terms of the latter, if a more local treatment can be found this would surely suit all parties.”
