A Bedford community leader is sharing his personal story after family health scares forced him to rethink his approach to physical and mental wellbeing.
John Walsh, 36, an aerospace product manager and community leader for The Mancave UK in Bedford, spoke out after his cousin passed away from melanoma and his father received a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Reflecting on how the diagnoses changed his outlook, John explained that seeing his cousin’s determination made him realise he could no longer take his own wellbeing for granted.
John said: “As men, we tend to put things off until the last minute. If we have a health concern, we often bottle it up.”
He explained that men frequently feel pressure to stay tough and hope health problems will pass without seeking medical checks.
Urging local men to tackle health worries early through his work at The Mancave UK, John added: “Just do it. Be uncomfortable and get it done.”
John said: “There is no negative outcome. You either get reassurance or find out early that something needs attention.”
Read: Ambulance trauma team secures national award nomination
Wake-Up Call
His story forms part of a campaign called The Wake-Up Call, launched by healthcare provider Benenden Health and fronted by actor Will Mellor, to encourage earlier medical intervention.
The campaign comes as new research shows six in 10 men in Eastern England have ignored symptoms or health concerns they were worried about.
According to the survey, 39% of men in the region admitted delaying help on multiple occasions, with 37% hoping the issue would simply disappear.
A further 23% felt their concern was not serious enough to warrant medical attention, while more than 72% admitted prioritising the health of loved ones over their own.
The data revealed that 54% of men in Eastern England have experienced a health-related wake-up call that prompted them to take action.
Personal health scares were the most common trigger at 43%, followed by the death of someone close at 18% and another person’s diagnosis at 16%.
Early intervention
Read: Hundreds supported as Bedford Borough health service marks first anniversary
Highlighting the national issue, member data from Benenden Health showed men account for just 24% of usage across key services like GP access and mental health support.
Dr Cheryl Lythgoe, nurse consultant at Benenden Health, warned that putting health concerns at the bottom of the priority list risks missing opportunities for early intervention.
Dr Cheryl Lythgoe said: “What’s striking about this research is how many men are continuing to ignore symptoms or put their own health at the bottom of the priority list, often until something serious forces them to stop and reassess.”
She stressed that taking small steps, such as booking routine check-ups or speaking openly about symptoms, can make a significant difference to long-term health outcomes.
