Publish date: 4 February 2026
With the help of his beloved dog, Rafferty, a local Hadfield man living with stage four prostate cancer has donated £1,000 to the Macmillan Advanced Cancer Nurses at Tameside Hospital. The duo raised the funds through a heart-warming community campaign that brought together local businesses, residents and charities.
Neil, who was diagnosed just over a year ago with advanced prostate cancer, chose the Macmillan Advanced Cancer Nursing Team as the recipient of his first major donation, raised through his festive “Rafferty as Santa” Christmas biscuit campaign. While some funds were raised directly through biscuit sales, the majority of the £1,000 came from generous donations made by local businesses and their customers over the Christmas period.
Neil said, “I wanted my first £1,000 to go directly to the nurses who support people like me every single day. The Macmillan Advanced Cancer Nurses at Tameside – especially Laura, Shannon and Lisa – have been incredible, not just to me but to so many people living with advanced cancer.”
Alongside fundraising, the campaign focused on giving back to the wider community. Biscuits were donated to local schools, foodbanks, Cancer Research UK charity shops, Barnardo’s, and Glossop Mountain Rescue, ensuring the initiative spread kindness as well as awareness.
Diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer after his PSA level reached 210, Neil learned that the disease had already spread to his lymph system and bones. PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland, and measuring it helps doctors assess prostate health, including the risk or presence of prostate cancer. While surgery was not an option, hormone therapy and supportive treatments have reduced Neil’s PSA to 3.12 – buying time, hope and a renewed sense of purpose.
Determined to prevent others from facing a late diagnosis, Neil launched Walk-4-4, an awareness and fundraising campaign inspired by Sir Chris Hoy’s “Tour de 4”. The campaign encourages conversation about prostate cancer while raising funds for charities supporting those living with advanced disease.
Rafferty the dog has supported Neil on many of his awareness walks, becoming something of a local celebrity. Known for his large size, friendly nature and unique party tricks, Rafferty regularly stops passers-by in their tracks, helping to spark conversations and spread smiles and awareness, wherever they go.
Neil added, “The advanced cancer nurses from the Tameside Macmillan Unit have been by my side every step of the way. This £1,000 donation is my way of saying thank you, but it’s just the beginning.”
Neil now hopes to build on this momentum with new awareness campaigns throughout the year, working with individuals and businesses to raise further funds while continuing to give back to the community.
Emily Whelan, Charity Manager for Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity said, “We would like to thank Neil, his wife Melanie, the gorgeous Rafferty and everyone who supported the campaign, for their generosity and commitment to supporting our nurses and patients across Tameside and Glossop”.
With special thanks to the local businesses who have supported Neil’s fundraising:
- Natasha from Portobello
- Janet from Dolly's Cafe
- Azeem and Medhi from The Pizza Place
- Tarnia from The Little Retreat
- Olwyn from White Footprints
- Sarah from Dineen Opticians
- Staff from Big Brekkie
- All the customers of the above and the wider Hadfield community.
