WHEN Kay Willett runs the Oxford Half Marathon on Sunday, she won’t just be aiming to reach the finish line.

She and husband Rick, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 months ago, are determined to raise awareness among Oxford’s black community.

The couple were shocked to discover that as a black man, Mr Willett’s risk of getting this type of cancer was one in four – twice as likely as average.

Mr Willett, who was born and brought up in Blackbird Leys, said: “You don’t believe it’s happening to you, so you dismiss any thought that it could be anything more serious.”

The 49-year-old who lives in Witney with Ms Willett and stepsons Josh, 23 and Oliver, 18, added: “I am one of the lucky ones because they found it and treated it.

“But if people stick their head in the sand and pretend it’s not a problem, by the time they are diagnosed it will be too late.”

Ms Willett, headteacher at Iffley’s Isis Academy, will be running with eight of her teaching team to raise money for the charity Prostate Cancer UK.

She said: “My message to other women is to nag their men to get checked out.

“Although prostate cancer is more common in older men, black males need to get checked from their mid-40s.

“Please persuade your man to get it done as soon as possible, because it’s one of the most curable cancers if caught early.”

Doctors told Mr Willett, a pastoral support specialist at Isis Academy, the cancer had probably been there for 10 years. But it only came to light after he had tests for something else.

He was referred to the Churchill Hospital, where a biopsy revealed he was suffering from advanced prostate cancer.

He was also close to kidney failure, as his prostate had become so enlarged, it was preventing his kidneys from working properly.

Mr Willett said: “Looking back, passing urine was an issue, in that sometimes I would be desperate to go to the toilet and then couldn’t go when I got there.

He added: “It was tough hearing I had cancer.

“Even when they tell you the results, you still don’t want to accept it.”

Doctors operated in February to remove Mr Willett’s prostate and he later had eight weeks of radiotherapy.

Ms Willett said: “At first, it seemed Rick had just months to live, because it was such an aggressive cancer.

“But if I looked sad at school, the children would come and say ‘Don’t worry, Mr Willett’s going to be OK’.

“They made cards and messages for him and many parents sent cards, too, which made us feel as though we were part of one big family.”

Team Willett are raising cash for charity Prostate Cancer UK through their marathon sponsorship, while students have chipped in by holding cake sales.

So far, they have raised £2,300 of their £3,500 target.

* To donate, visit TeamWillett’s Just Giving page at: http://goo.gl/sus9rB