As the UK marked Father’s Day last weekend, Worcestershire golfer Emily Hyde is sharing her experience of losing her dad to prostate cancer – and is calling for greater awareness of the most common cancer in the UK.

Emily, from Kidderminster, faced Father’s Day without her dad, John, after he died of prostate cancer last June, just hours before she embarked on an epic fundraising challenge for Prostate Cancer UK. Now, the 30-year-old is determined to spread the word about the disease which affects 1 in 8 men.

Golf had always played an important role in Emily’s life, but it gained more significance after John, who was one of the first members at their club Bewdley Pines, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2024.

“Dad was the person I always wanted to be playing golf with. He made me feel safe and taught me so much. From my first round at ten years old to county matches, he was always there helping me grow into the golfer I am today,” she said.

“His diagnosis was pure shock. Being told your dad has prostate cancer and probably won’t get through it is heartbreaking. I never thought my dad of all people would get cancer, let alone die from it. He was such a tough man. When we got the diagnosis, I naively thought he’d get through it like other people do. But it was just too late.”

2.7-handicapper Emily and a group of family and friends took action after John’s diagnosis, combining their love for golf and determination to make a difference for men by signing up to Prostate Cancer UK’s Big Golf Race, the UK’s biggest golf fundraising challenge.

Sadly, in June 2025, John passed away, just hours before Emily was due to tee off her 72-hole challenge at Bewdley Pines Golf Club.

She said: “Dad passed away on the Tuesday evening, and The Big Golf Race was planned for the Wednesday. He would have haunted me for life if I hadn’t done it. We were raising money for such an important cause, and I knew he’d want me to carry on.

“It also became a strange kind of therapy. Doing something he loved, surrounded by friends and family, helped me get through those first 24 hours. We had so many people at the club that day – it really helped us cope.”

And now, one year on, Emily is sharing her story in a powerful Prostate Cancer UK film as the charity launches its campaign to give men the power to navigate prostate cancer at every step of their journey. Prostate cancer is the UK’s most common cancer, affecting thousands of men every year. By 2036, 750,000 men will be living with the disease or experiencing side effects from the treatment.

The leading men’s health charity offers men trusted, expert information and support, and funds groundbreaking research that is transforming the future of cancer care – from making screening a reality, to finding better treatments that give men fewer side effects.

“Losing dad has changed our lives,” she said. “I now have to go through major life moments without him, like the birth of my daughter. But it’s also made people take action. Lots of people at the club, and friends and family outside it, have gone to get checked, and losing Dad saved my uncle’s life. He went to get checked, was diagnosed and is now going through treatment.

“Golf is a great place for talking about your health. You spend hours on the course and in the clubhouse and men open up there in ways they might not at home. Since Dad died, I’ve realised how many people have been affected by prostate cancer. Sadly, Dad was the one who didn’t make it because he was diagnosed too late.”

Laura Kerby, Chief Executive at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Emily’s story is a powerful and deeply moving reminder of the devastating impact prostate cancer can have on families. Facing Father’s Day without her dad after losing him just hours before taking on such an incredible fundraising challenge speaks volumes about her strength and determination. It’s clear how much golf meant to them both, and how Emily has channelled her grief into something positive – bringing people together, raising awareness and encouraging men to take action in her dad’s memory.

“Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, affecting 1 in 8 men. Too many, like John, are diagnosed too late. Emily’s story shows why earlier diagnosis is critical, and why conversations – on the golf course and beyond – can save lives.”