West Country man sets off on epic 500 mile tractor journey
Andrew Gibson is raising awareness of prostate cancer in rural communities
A Gloucestershire man has embarked on an epic tractor journey to raise money and awareness about prostate cancer in the rural community.
In April 2020, Andrew Gibson collapsed while refereeing a rugby match.
Shortly afterwards he received the terrible news that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate, cancer and was given just two years to live.
But rather than slowing down, the former military armed forces and NHS paramedic has set himself an incredible challenge.
58-year-old Andrew has set off on a 500-mile, two day, solo road trip by tractor.
He’s traveling from Gloucestershire to Lancashire and then back down to Bristol to highlight the cause.
His mission is to raise awareness and vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
Andrew has always lived in rural communities and research shows that people living in rural areas, and farmers in particular, are less likely to engage in preventative health measures, including cancer screenings.
Andrew says that’s partially due to the nature of their work:
“I suddenly realised that the people around me, particularly the farmers, were really not looking after themselves because they're so work focused.”
“Research is really strong in that people living in the rural area are less likely to engage in their preventative health measures.”
“They simply prioritise their work over their personal health, they’re out in those fields trying to get farm to plate, it's tough.”
“But what we're saying is, look, we've got the data, we've got the research, we've got the analysis, you really need to take some time out just to get yourself checked.”
Andrew has borrowed a tractor to complete his 500-mile round trip, as his own vehicle simply wouldn’t have managed the journey.
He set off from the Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire on Tuesday afternoon, and will make his way up through the English countryside, arriving at Hoghton Tower, near his former Ambulance Station in Chorley, Lancashire.
From there Andrew will make his way back down to the South West, finally finishing at Genesis Care cancer centre in Bristol.
Andrew knows it won’t be any easy task:
“Farmers will know to do 500 miles in in any kind of tractor is a challenge!”
“I know I'm going to hold up a few people, I apologise for that in advance!”
“But I'm towing a large slogan trailer as well, and that will say ‘Harvest your prostate health’, so that will remind people that actually I'm doing some good.”