Rugby Rotary and Lions Clubs team up with councillors to host charity quiz night also raising funds for prostate cancer testing
Two clubs in Rugby have teamed up to host a charity quiz night which is also raising funds towards prostate cancer testing in the town.
The Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore and the Rugby Rokeby Lions Club have teamed up with Councillors Jerry Roodhouse and Maggie O’Rourke for the event on July 31 from 7.30pm in the Rugby Indian Centre.
The quiz night will be raising money towards for prostate cancer testing in Rugby as well as funds for Prostate Cancer Research and Neuroendocrine Cancer UK.
Rotarian Willy Goldschmidt said: “55,000 men are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and 12,000 die every year and yet this disease can be cured if diagnosed early.
“Eight years ago, aged 65, I had no symptoms of the disease when my GP ordered a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test which indicated that I might have cancer.
“This was confirmed after an MRI scan and biopsy.
“I was doubly fortunate to be told that it was at an early stage and could be cured if dealt with promptly.
“I was offered the opportunity to take part in a research trial for a new type of radiotherapy treatment which meant that I only had five courses of treatment, as opposed to the standard 20 sessions and have been cancer free ever since."
“I must say that the side effects of the treatment were short lived and quite tolerable when compared to the alternatives discussed.
“The short course of radiotherapy treatment has been available at UHCW since March 2024. This was reported by the BBC earlier this year.
“I believe this stimulated interest from other Trusts around the country and on June 10 2026 NHS England announced that 48 radiotherapy centres would start offering this service “within weeks”.”
The Rugby Rokeby Lions Club also offers regular PSA testing in the town.
Lion Gill Nelson said: “It is deeply disappointing that the NHS National Screening Committee (NSC) has recently proposed screening only a few thousand men who are at the highest risk of contracting prostate cancer.
“The NHS only reluctantly offers testing on request for men aged between 50 and 70.
“The Rugby Rokeby Lions Club have organised private testing for men aged 40 and above for nine years.
“1,863 men without symptoms have been tested and of those 148 have been advised to make an urgent hospital or GP appointment to initiate further tests.”
Cllr Roodhouse was also keen to raise funds and awareness for the causes.
He said: “I had difficulty passing urine, which is one of the classic symptoms of prostate cancer, and my GP offered me a PSA test, which did not indicate that I had prostate cancer – but follow up scans and a biopsy identified that I have advanced neuroendocrine cancer.
“Men are notoriously reluctant to discuss their health and many believe that the typical symptoms are just a sign of ageing.
“I would urge all men aged over 50 to speak to their GP to request a free NHS test or to attend the next Lions Club testing session on September 19 in the Queens Diamond Jubilee Sports Centre.”
Cllr Maggie O’Rourke also has a personal connection to the causes.
She said: “My husband Brendan was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago.
“Like Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, his PSA levels were very low but thanks to a very diligent local GP further investigations led to his cancer diagnosis.
“Different treatment options were discussed with the lead consultants and Brendan was one of the first to have a successful robotic surgery.
“It’s really good to see that treatments are advancing and that we have well known local men who are not only promoting awareness of the importance of testing but are championing compassion in services, more treatment locally and advancing national pilots.”
“I was delighted to learn that Willy has been given an invitation to attend the next meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Prostate Cancer in Westminster at which he will hear the group’s initial perspective on the latest National Screening Programme recommendation to only test a very small group of men at a high risk of contracting the disease.”
To buy tickets for the quiz go to: https://bit.ly/4uPCJ68