Menace scores for his hospital

MEXBOROUGH'S two-times world darts champion Dennis Priestley has been named as a patron of a cancer charity which raises funds for the hospital he was recently treated at.
The 58-year-old, known as The Menace, has become a patron of Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity after receiving treatment for prostate cancer at the Sheffield hospital.

He said: "We are very lucky to have Weston Park here in our region. It is one of the leading centres for cancer treatment in the UK, and we all need to do what we can to raise funds to help keep it there and make things better for everyone with cancer in our region.

"This is obviously very close to my heart, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to be able support the Cancer Charity and help make a difference."

Dennis is currently waiting to find out whether an intensive month of radiotherapy treatment last September has been successful but has maintained his position among the elite of darts during his treatment.

Speaking about his recovery, Dennis said: "It is a massive shock for anyone to be told it's the 'big C' and you think it's virtually a death sentence.

"But having had treatment, and through talking to the specialists, I know it's not necessarily all doom and gloom.

"My first specialist told me he had patients he was still seeing twelve years after treatment. Obviously it's different for everyone, and some deal with it better than others.

"For now I am waiting to see and trying to spread the word to other men to get seen to and get sorted out.

"I was getting up more often in the night – and that's sometimes a sign. It's not always cancer but it's worth getting checked."

West Park is one of just three dedicated cancer hospitals in the UK.

serving residents in South Yorkshire, North Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire. The Cancer Charity raises funds to support research, treatment and care at the hospital.

Charity director Rachel Thorpe said: "We are delighted that Dennis has honoured us by becoming a patron of the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity and would like to thank him for taking time out of his busy schedule to help us in our fundraising.
Published Date: 04 February 2009
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