Free skin and prostate cancer checks will be made available to the farming community during the NSA Sheep Event at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern (Tuesday 28th July).
As part of its UK-wide partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, The Farming Community Network (FCN) is working with healthcare professionals during the event to provide cancer checks targeting the farming community.
Members of the FCN team will be in attendance to discuss the Rural Communities Cancer Project and the #NipItInTheBud campaign – which are helping to raise awareness of cancer in farming and rural communities and reduce stigma.
FCN will be working with The Graham Fulford Charitable Trust to offer Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing on the day (Stand 68) to farmers aged 40 and over. Attendees will need to book in advance via the link here, using the code FCN26: https://www.mypsatests.org.uk/Events/?96d65056-9840-466d-a56d-2657b927c962
PSA testing is a simple blood test that can help detect potential prostate issues early.
While the test is free of charge, attendees will need to purchase a ticket to the NSA Sheep Event in order to gain access to the venue. Booking the PSA test is first-come-first-serve.
In June Jeremy Clarkson revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis, which has encouraged many within the farming community to be more aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and to get themselves checked.
Nurses from Worcester Acute Hospitals will also be present on Stand 68, providing skin cancer checks and advice throughout the day.
Farmers can be more at risk of skin cancer due to frequent outdoor working and prolonged exposure to the sun.
During the event The Farming Community Network will also be launching its new publication in England, ‘A Guide For Farming Families Affected by Cancer', which has been developed by people within the farming community who have direct experience of living with cancer and undergoing cancer diagnoses, treatment and aftercare.
Copies of the publication will be available to take away from Stand 68.
A digital copy of the publication can be accessed here: https://fcn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Guide-for-Farming-Families-Affected-by-Cancer-digital-pdf-1.pdf
Alex Phillimore, Head of Operations and Communications at The Farming Community Network, said: “Cancer can cause unique challenges for people living in farming and rural communities. This includes long working hours, geographical isolation and a lack of access to support services. Many farmers struggle to make time to attend GP appointments and to prioritise their own health and wellbeing. We hope that by bringing these services to farmers, we can provide a convenient way for them to get themselves checked whilst attending the NSA Sheep Event.
“We are also proud to launch our new publication, ‘A Guide For Farming Families Affected by Cancer’, during the event. This booklet has been developed through the lived experiences of farmers who have received a cancer diagnosis, in addition to family members and carers of those impacted by cancer. We hope the booklet will help to provide useful information and support resources to farming families affected by cancer.”
Macmillan Cancer Support has recently set up a discussion forum on its Online Community for farmers who have been impacted by cancer: https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/cancer-chat-forum/f/chat-13/308197/farming-rural-communities-and-cancer
FCN volunteers will also be present at the NSA Sheep Event promoting the wider work of the charity (Stand 137).
Read more about the Rural Communities Cancer Project here: https://fcn.org.uk/cancersupport/
Image: Sky News/Amazon Prime Video
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