The start of October marked the beginning of this year’s Prostate United campaign, with people across the country looking to raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
And the return of the challenge sees one of MAN v FAT’s community again seeking success with his fundraising efforts.
Tom Ashby, who has had positive stints at our MAN v FAT Basingstoke club, was among the top fundraisers nationally in 2025 and is aiming to be right up there again this year.
We caught up with him to find out more.
What made you want to get involved with Prostate United again this year?
Last time, I was able to raise awareness for Prostate Cancer UK while also raising over £1,000 for such an important cause. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, and knowing that the money raised can make a genuine difference to men and their families made me want to take on the challenge again.
If I can challenge myself physically while raising money and awareness at the same time, then every mile is worth it.
What did you learn from being involved last time that will prepare you for this year’s challenge?
The biggest thing I learned is just how tough the challenge can be. Doing it every single day for a whole month is demanding, especially when your legs are tired, the weather isn’t great or your motivation starts to drop.
But I also learned that I am capable of pushing through those difficult days, and I’m determined to complete the challenge once again.
The support you receive makes a huge difference as well. Whether it’s support from Prostate Cancer UK, messages from friends and family, people sharing your fundraising page or seeing another donation come through, it all gives you that extra bit of motivation to keep going.
How did participating in the challenge help with your weight loss for MAN v FAT sessions?
Taking part in Prostate United definitely helped keep me on track with my MAN v FAT weigh-ins.
When you’re doing a challenge like this, your daily activity increases massively and you certainly get your steps in! The last time I took part, I walked around 474 kilometres – roughly 294 miles – over the course of the month.
That amount of walking really helped with my fitness and weight-loss journey, and it gave me another reason to stay focused each week.
I would definitely recommend Prostate United to anyone who is thinking about taking part. You can choose a challenge that works for you, whether that’s walking, running or cycling, so there really is something for everyone.
You’re not only doing something positive for your own health and fitness, you’re also raising money and awareness for an incredibly important cause at the same time.
What are you most looking forward to this year?
One of the things I’m looking forward to most this year is seeing how much of a difference the challenge can make to my own health and fitness.
I’d like to lose as much weight as I safely can throughout the month and hopefully use the challenge as a springboard to continue being more active afterwards.
I don’t want October to finish and for the walking to suddenly stop. I’d really like to keep it going, make regular walking part of my routine and continue working towards my weight-loss goals.
I’m also excited to see just how much awareness and money we can raise along the way.
Have you set yourself a fundraising target, or do you just want to beat last year?
I originally set myself a fundraising target of £500, which amazingly we managed to smash within just three days of me signing up for Prostate United.
My next goal is to get as close as possible to the £1,000 I raised last time – although secretly, I’m hoping we can go even further and beat it!
The reason behind the fundraising is what really matters. Prostate Cancer UK says that one man dies from prostate cancer every 45 minutes in the UK. Put that into football terms and that’s two men during the course of a 90-minute match.
Those aren’t just statistics. They’re people’s dads, grandads, husbands, partners, brothers, sons and friends.
That’s why I want to raise as much as I possibly can. A prostate cancer diagnosis can be one of the hardest moments a man and his family will ever experience, and the money raised through challenges like Prostate United helps support the charity’s work for men affected by the disease.
Every donation, whether it’s £5, £10, £20 or more, adds up and can make a difference.
If I can push myself through this challenge, raise awareness and help raise money that could ultimately help more men and their families, then every single step will be worth it.
Want to donate to Tom’s fundraising?
Tom is flying with his fundraising and, with the support of the MAN v FAT community, he could reach even greater totals! You can donate to his fundraising page here.
