Yorkshire Cancer Research ambassadors join charity supporters as Baton for Yorkshire reaches Sheffield

Sheffield-born sporting star Johnny Nelson MBE has carried the Baton for Yorkshire through the city as part of the Yorkshire Cancer Research We Walk for Yorkshire campaign, joined by his friend, Aaron Casserly Stewart, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024.  

The pair took part in the Sheffield leg of the charity’s landmark month-long relay, which is bringing together researchers, people with cancer and charity supporters to travel through 35 locations across Yorkshire – in recognition of the 35,000 people diagnosed with cancer in the region each year.  

The Yorkshire-wide relay forms part of the Yorkshire Cancer Research We Walk for Yorkshire fundraising campaign, which calls on people across the region to collectively walk 35,000 miles to fund life-saving research in Yorkshire. 

Having begun its journey in Hull, the Baton for Yorkshire has already travelled more than 115 miles and is now making its way through South Yorkshire, before heading into West Yorkshire and finishing at the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre in Harrogate on 28 May. 

Johnny and Aaron took part in the Sheffield leg of the We Walk for Yorkshire baton relay together to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and the need for new and better treatments, following Aaron’s own experience with prostate cancer.

Aaron was diagnosed with stage 3 prostate cancer in April 2024 and chose to have surgery to remove his prostate. Although he recovered well from the surgery and is now having regular checks to monitor his health, he has experienced challenging side effects. 

Aaron said: “Finding out I had prostate cancer was a real shock. I was talked through different treatment options but opted for a prostatectomy because, in my mind, I just wanted it gone. However, the decision came with a lot of difficult side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence, that I’m still dealing with a year and a half later. Given my diagnosis, dealing with those side effects is worth it, but it shows surgery should only be offered when it is necessary to treat the cancer.”

“I decided to speak publicly about my diagnosis because all men need to be made aware, especially Black men. It’s more prevalent in our community, but we don’t like going to the doctors or talking about health issues like cancer.”   

"It’s so important to encourage open conversations. If I’d been diagnosed earlier, I might not have needed surgery and could have considered less invasive treatments, or active surveillance, which means you have regular check-ups.” 

Aaron is now sharing his experience to call for more research into the disease and raise awareness of new clinical trials happening in Yorkshire that aim to find better ways to diagnose and treat prostate cancer.

This includes a major new prostate cancer screening trial called IMProVE, led by experts in Sheffield, which is investigating whether combining blood tests with MRI scans could save lives and if so, how it can be organised to reduce health inequalities. The trial aims to engage men at risk of prostate cancer, including Black men, who have double the risk of prostate cancer compared to men from White backgrounds. 

Walking in solidarity with Aaron and others close to him who have been affected by cancer, Johnny said: “It’s a real privilege to be part of the We Walk for Yorkshire relay and to carry the baton alongside Aaron, who has experienced first-hand the reality of a prostate cancer diagnosis.

“Prostate cancer affects thousands of men every year, with Black men significantly more at risk.  It’s so important we continue to support research to improve early detection and make sure men get the right treatment at the right time.”

“Like many people, I’ve seen cancer affect friends and family over the years. I lost my stepdad to prostate cancer and my biological dad to lung cancer, and witnessed friends experience the difficulties that come with a cancer diagnosis.” 

Sadly, people in Yorkshire are more likely to have their lives cut short by cancer than almost anywhere else in England. Yorkshire Cancer Research is funding £75m of vital cancer research to find new and better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people live longer, healthier lives, free from cancer.  

Earlier in the day, the Baton for Yorkshire was carried by a team of University of Sheffield researchers working on the innovative E-IMMUNE study, which is developing a new digital app to help people undergoing immunotherapy better monitor and manage their side effects to improve their quality of life. 

Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research, the study aims to ensure those experiencing more serious side effects requiring urgent care can be treated more quickly, while those with milder or no symptoms can safely manage them at home - reducing unnecessary hospital visits and the length of stay.

Researchers were joined by people with cancer who are working closely with the team to co-design the app, ensuring it can have the greatest impact for people receiving immunotherapy treatment. One of those people is 66-year-old Ian Boswell from Sheffield, who has been living with cancer for 11 years and started immunotherapy 18 months ago.

Ian said: “Since starting immunotherapy, my quality of life has been far better and my side effects have been manageable. That’s not the case for everyone, so it’s great this new app could help spot problems more quickly, while allowing people like me to manage symptoms at home without extra hospital visits.”  

Alongside raising vital funds for life-saving cancer research, the We Walk for Yorkshire baton relay offers people affected by cancer the opportunity to hold the baton for someone or something special to them. Each baton-bearer will be invited to share a name of who they are walking for and place personal messages inside the baton as it makes its journey across the region.

For Simon Twigge, holding the Baton for Yorkshire is a way to give back to the team at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University. Here, he took part in Active Together, the research-backed cancer exercise treatment service designed by experts at the university and funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research.  

In December 2024, Simon was diagnosed with head and neck cancer and quickly began treatment which involved 35 rounds of radiotherapy and two rounds of chemotherapy. His treatment made it painful and very difficult for him to swallow, requiring him to use a feeding tube for nutrition and losing over 20kg as a result.

To help him prepare for surgery and recover from treatment, Simon took part in the Active Together service in Sheffield, where he was given a personalised cancer exercise treatment plan along with tailored nutritional and wellbeing support.

Simon continued: “After surgery, I had lost a lot of strength, especially in my upper body. The Active Together sessions really helped me build back this strength while maintaining my cardiovascular fitness. Within weeks, I was seeing a huge difference. After just two sessions, I was itching to get out again and able to start my longer walks.”

Thankfully, Simon can once again walk long distances in the Yorkshire countryside, along with his partner and close circle of friends who supported him throughout his cancer treatment. In addition to carrying the Baton for Yorkshire to the Yorkshire Cancer Research shop at Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre, he has set himself the goal of 15,000 steps a day, around 230 miles for the month. He also completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks at the start of May to celebrate a special birthday. 

Nicky Hill, Head of Active Together at Yorkshire Cancer Research, commented: “Passing through Yorkshire’s historic cities, rural market towns, scenic coast and iconic Dales, the Yorkshire Cancer Research Baton for Yorkshire represents the shared determination and commitment of people across our region to help save lives in Yorkshire and beyond.

“Sheffield has an important role to play in the We Walk for Yorkshire relay, from the researchers finding new ways prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, to people including Simon who have experienced first-hand the difference research makes to living longer, healthier lives.

“It has been fantastic to see the city come together for We Walk for Yorkshire, with researchers and charity supporters carrying the baton for those affected by cancer and helping raise funds for life-saving research in our region.”