Super supporter John Brownless, 60, has raised more than £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK over the last nine years.
This article first appeared in The 18th, the Prostate Cancer UK Magazine.
One proud local golfer has made a major impact in raising funds and spreading crucial awareness about prostate cancer in his community – and his penchant for saving lives has now gone global. Super supporter John Brownless, 60, has raised more than £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK over the last nine years having been diagnosed with the most common cancer in men in 2004.
Diagnosed at just 42 years old, John’s love of golf has seen him stage numerous golf days, at home and abroad.
Prostate Cancer UK raised almost £2m across golf in 2022 but you can’t put a price on the life- changing role former captain Brownless has played upon others, with around ten men, at his last count, diagnosed after reacting to his story and visiting their GP.
I’ve had grown men charge across the golf course and thank me.
“Many have told me they have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but that they are having treatment. They are so grateful.” Brownless, who has also hosted successful golf days in Spain as well as embracing walking, cycling and running events for the charity, hosts his annual day at Shipley Golf Club.
He has also forged friendships with those affected in England and Spain, admitting he sees our Man of Men pin badge frequently among
the ex-Pat community in Orihuela Costa near Torrevieja Alicante.
He added: “People say quite often ‘why do you keep doing this year on year as you are banging the same drum?’ I tell them the reason I doit, is, as well as awareness I’ve got two sons, one 30, one 13 and I don’t want them to have prostate cancer, so if I can do anything to help find a cure before they get into the vulnerability of age where they can pick it up, then I’ve done my bit. That’s the reason I do it.”
And it was at his 2019 golf day in West Yorkshire that a chance meeting inspired a decorated golfing star to join the fight.
John’s passionate address to a packed room of golfers after a successful sixth golf day caught the attention of fellow Yorkshireman Alan Muff, who had played with friends that day. Unbeknown to John, Muff is manager to former Masters champion Danny Willett and was so inspired by the speech that he decided to get Danny involved.
Fast forward to the opening PGA Tour event of the following season in Abu Dhabi, and Danny was sporting our iconic ‘Man of Men’ pin badge on his golf bag, and when Willett hosted the Betfred BritishMasters in 2020 he selected Prostate Cancer UK as his charity of choice– and helped raised £25,000.
And Brownless was in for a shock when Willett hijacked a staged press interview at The Belfry to thank him for his tireless support of Prostate Cancer UK and present him with a custom wedge.
With two more days on the horizon,John shows no sign of slowing down either, adding: “Golf is a game for life and it’s so important to get the message out about the dangers of this disease. I have a passion for the charity and saving the lives of men.”