Runner takes on challenge dressed as testicles

A charity fundraiser has run 150km (90 miles) along the length of Hadrian's Wall dressed as a pair of testicles to try reducing the stigma around testicular cancer.

Toby Freeman from Colchester is the founder of Robin Cancer Trust, a charity set up in memory of his older brother who died from testicular cancer in 2011.

His latest challenge - part of a bid to run 500km (311 miles) in total - has seen him run coast to coast from Cumbria to Tyneside across three days dressed in his eye-catching costume.

"It was absolutely incredible," said the 35-year-old.

"Some of the livestock were a bit wary of the giant testicles, but we avoided them as we navigated through."

Mr Freeman said the "big ballsy challenge" was intended to "break the stigma, reduce the embarrassment, and save lives" around testicular and ovarian cancers.

"Testicular cancer took my brother, now I'm taking on marathons, ultramarathons, and Hadrian's Wall in a giant testicle costume to raise £240,000," he said.

"I chose to do this, I'm able to do this - health is such a privilege and that's denied to so many.

"There was this overwhelming gratitude for the support and the donations, all the conversations, but also what I'm able to do."

"We need to take stock and be appreciative of what our bodies can do while we have the opportunity."

As part of the challenge, he has already run marathons in London, Brighton, and completed the Great Manchester Run.

He will continue in the coming weeks with the Thames Park Ultramarathon, culminating in the Big Ballsy Ultramarathon in November.

Robin Cancer Trust, founded in 2012, has the aim of raising awareness of cancer symptoms at an early stage, and also educates and supports young people.

On its website, it describes itself as "the UK's only testicular, ovarian and germ cell cancer charity".

Cancer Research UK says germ cells are cells in the body that develop into sperm and eggs, and that germ cell tumours most often develop in the ovary or testicle because this is where most germ cells are.

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