SIR – I would like to extend a big thank-you to Marks & Spencer staff and customers at stores across the region for all of their incredible support in making March’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month such a huge success.

There are 250,000 men living with prostate cancer in the UK, yet it is a disease too rarely spoken about openly.

The Prostate Cancer Charity used its annual awareness month to increase understanding of prostate cancer and highlight the fact that it is often thought of as ‘the hidden disease’.

M&S has raised more than £242,000 so far, with money still flooding in. More than £35,000 of this came directly from staff.

M&S is a huge part of the charity’s awareness month and stores across the UK have been incredibly supportive.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month exposed all of the unseen aspects of the disease, from the fact that it can be a taboo topic, to hidden support and information needs of men living with the disease, which are often not fully met.

I would urge anyone with any concerns about the disease to call the Charity’s Helpline on 0800 0748383.

Mark Foster, Olympic swimmer, on behalf of the Prostate Cancer Charity