South Cornwall pub named Prostate Cancer UK’s favourite local

The Par Inn in Par, South Cornwall has been named as Prostate Cancer UK’s favourite local having beaten over 350 pubs across the UK to be crowned the winners.

Following the launch last year of pop-up pub fundraiser, the Men United Arms, Prostate Cancer UK called on landlords this September to throw open their doors and host a fundraising night in order to help save men’s lives.

Landlord Matt Bailey took the competition in his stride and raised an incredible £4120 by hosting a BBQ, two auctions, a raffle, card games, charging for bar food, donations for lifts and general donations on the bar.

As one of the highest fundraisers, the pub was among the five pubs shortlisted and put forward to a judging panel of experts who were thoroughly impressed by the pub’s efforts and dedication, awarding them Prostate Cancer UK’s favourite local.

Matt said: “When I received the call saying we had won, I couldn’t believe it! I was convinced another pub was going to win so I am absolutely over the moon. It’s been such a great couple of months and despite being quite competitive, regardless of whether we had won in the end or not, it’s been great to see everyone come together and get involved.”

Matt was inspired to organize the events for Prostate Cancer UK after a regular customer was diagnosed with prostate cancer and handed information about the Men United Arms to Matt. The whole community have since all got behind and raised the money.

“Having the connection to the cause as well and seeing how prostate cancer has affected someone close to us, has been the driving force for putting in everything we could to raise as much money as possible. So many customers have really gone all out and joined in in so many different ways and it’s down to them that we have won. Roll on next year, we hope to go even bigger and better!”

Customers to the Par Inn have taken part by donating items to the raffle, baking cakes and joining in the many fun and games that the pub has hosted, but that isn’t all. Every year, Matt takes rugby supporting customers to the rugby and out to dinner. This year all 24 customers have donated the cost of their tickets to Prostate Cancer UK, which has added to their total.

Industry experts that lined the judging panel include Masterchef star Gregg Wallace, , Former Chief Executive of the Spirt Pub Company, Mike Tye, Ed Beddington, Editor of the Morning Advertiser, Pub Aid’s James Cuthbertson and Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK Angela Culhane. The pubs were judged based on the amount raised, most innovative idea, customer involvement and their commitment to their local community.

Other shortlisted pubs that were in the running included The Boot Inn and The Old White Horse in Warwickshire and The Rose of Lancaster and The Duke of Lancaster in Lancashire. The end result was very close.

Angela Culhane, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “The Par Inn sounds like a real community hub with a uniting factor not only at being a great pub but also in their dedication at making an effort a difference for a great cause. It definitely sounds like they put the fun into fundraising! They are very deserving of being named our favourite local and I want to thank Matt and the team for raising such a huge amount of money.”

10,900 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year, making it the most common cancer in men, with 330,000 living with and after the disease in the UK.

Angela added: “Currently one man an hour dies from prostate cancer in the UK. Based on current trends, if we ignore prostate cancer and do nothing, this number will rise to over 14,500 men a year by 2026. Whether supporting through a quiz night or through an alternative fundraiser at your pub or in your local community, just like The Par Inn, you’ll be helping us push for real change for men.”

If you have been inspired by The Par Inn, you can still encourage your local to host a fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK and help save men’s lives. Whether it be a pub quiz, live music night or darts competition, sign up for a fundraising pack or receive more information at http://prostatecanceruk.org/menunitedarms

ENDS

For more information on Men United and Prostate Cancer UK please contact:

Harriet Argyle at Prostate Cancer UK on 020 3 310 7097/harriet.argyle@prostatecanceruk.org

Notes to Editors

About Prostate Cancer UK

Prostate Cancer UK leads the fight against prostate cancer. We fund ground-breaking research, drive improvements in treatment, and fight injustice in care. Now we’ve set ourselves the toughest challenge yet: to stop prostate cancer being a killer.

Through shifting the science over the next 10 years to focus on radical improvements in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support, we can make prostate cancer a disease the next generation of men need not fear.

See our 10-year strategy

Key headline statistics

• 10,900 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year. That's one man every hour.
• It’s the most common cancer in men, with 330,000 living with and after the disease in the UK.
• Prostate cancer is set to become the most commonly diagnosed cancer of all in the UK in 2030 - which is why we must all act now to curb its power to kill.
• Prostate cancer treatment often causes devastating, long term side-effects.Incontinence and erectile dysfunction strike at the heart of what it means to be a man.
• Anyone with concerns about prostate cancer may contact Prostate Cancer UK's Specialist Nurses in confidence on 0800 074 8383 or online via the Live Chat instant messaging service: www.prostatecanceruk.org. The Specialist Nurse phone service is free to landlines and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays.
• Visit www.prostatecanceruk.org now to help beat this disease.