YouTube star Rick Shiels completes epic 500km cycle to raise £50k for Prostate Cancer UK

14/06/2023

PGA Professional and the world’s most popular golf YouTuber, Rick Shiels, marked the 2023 Open Championship by completing another epic fundraising challenge for Prostate Cancer UK, an official charity of The PGA – this time on four wheels.

Shiels, who is the most-watched golf YouTuber with a channel boasting more than 2.5 million subscribers, cycled a whopping 500 kilometres from the home of golf – St. Andrews in Scotland – to this year’s Open venue, the Royal Liverpool.

The 36-year-old traversed the challenging route on a bespoke two-seater golf cart over four days. He was joined by a host of famous golfing and YouTube faces, including Sky Sports Golf presenter Iona Stephen.

The challenge comes a year after Shiels raised a whopping £127,000 for Prostate Cancer UK by walking 150 miles from Prestwick Golf Course to St. Andrews over six days, all while carrying his trusty golf clubs on his back.

Rick is raising money for Prostate Cancer UK during Men’s Health Week (June 13th-19th) and in the build-up to Father’s Day, where Prostate Cancer UK alongside supporter fundraising challenges is giving men the power to navigate the most common cancer in men by busting common myths and misconceptions, and sharing clear and accurate health information to help our dads, brothers, sons and mates make the right choices.

“It’s no secret that The Open is one of my favourite tournaments, and I wanted to create an annual challenge to celebrate its amazing history,” said Shiels. “My feet didn’t agree at the time, but last year’s Walk 150 challenge was a fantastic way to kick it all off. However, anyone who knows me will know that I always want to go bigger, better and crazier, and that’s where this year’s Cycle 500 challenge was born.

“Last year it was so inspiring to read all the amazing messages from men affected by prostate cancer and their families, thanking me for what I was doing, but it also highlighted why raising money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK is so important, especially as it’s Men’s Health Week too during the challenge.

“Prostate Cancer UK is making a real impact, especially through golf, and I’m delighted to be doing my bit again and shining a spotlight on the disease, which is still impacting the lives of too many men across the UK.”

Rick’s Cycle 500 challenge is part of a bumper programme of summer golfing activity from Prostate Cancer UK, which is headed by its flagship golf fundraiser, The Big Golf Race. The epic challenge, which has seen over 7,500 golfers raise over £2 million since 2020, invites golfers to take on 72 or 36 holes in a day and raise money to help beat the most common cancer in men.

Prostate Cancer UK is also the official charity partner of the 2023 Betfred British Masters, taking place from June 28 to July 2 at The Belfry, as well as a long-term partner of The PGA.

Nicola Tallett, Director of Fundraising & Supporter Engagement at Prostate Cancer UK said: “Golf has been so influential in spreading the word about prostate cancer, but as it affects one in eight men in the UK, this disease is still sadly present in every golf club.

“We need to drive home this serious message and ensure that in every clubhouse there are conversations about prostate cancer, and Rick is playing a massive part by using his voice to reach so many golfers during Men’s Health Week.

“Rick’s Walk 150 challenge last year inspired us all, and we’re hugely grateful that he’s pledged to support us again. We initially invited him to take on The Big Golf Race, but he wanted to go even bigger and create his own unique cycling challenge with his friends. Again, he’s got amazing support, and the money he’s raising is going towards life-saving research and supporting men affected by prostate cancer and their families.”

CLICK HERE to sponsor Shiels’ Cycle 500 challenge.