A Powys drinks manufacturer has teamed up with a leading Welsh prostate cancer charity to encourage men to get checked for the disease.

Radnor Hills, which is headquartered in Knighton, has supported Prostate Cymru with two PSA testing days and provided drinks to the charity’s Walk of Wales fundraising team.

The first testing day was held for Radnor Hills employees, with 60 members of staff having a PSA blood test.

A second event was then opened to the public at the company’s Knighton headquarters, where more than 220 men were tested.

Prostate Cymru is currently running the second year of its regional testing roadshow, visiting 10 locations across Wales to provide subsidised Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) tests to men at risk of prostate cancer.

Men aged 50 and over, or those aged 45 and over with a family history of prostate cancer, are encouraged to consider taking the test.

It is also recommended for men experiencing urinary or prostate-related symptoms, or anyone concerned about their prostate health.

The initiative comes as more than 2,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Wales every year, with almost one in five discovering their cancer too late to be cured.

Prostate cancer can also develop without obvious symptoms, making early testing and diagnosis important.

The simple PSA blood test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Raised levels can be a sign of a prostate condition, although further investigation is required to determine the cause.

Radnor Hills also recently met Prostate Cymru’s Walk of Wales group during their 1,000-plus-mile fundraising trek around Wales.

The team supplied drinks to walkers during their 14.9-mile stretch between Kington and Hay.

The walk, which ran from June 27 to August 9, aimed to raise £300,000 to fund six Specialist Cancer Nurses.

Chris Butler, Marketing Manager at Radnor Hills, said the company was proud to support Prostate Cymru.

He said the area had lower rates of PSA testing, which could contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment.

“As well as hosting a screening day for the public at our Knighton headquarters, where over 220 men had their PSA tested, the charity also tested 60 of our own colleagues,” he said.

Tina Tew, Chief Executive of Prostate Cymru, said early diagnosis was “the cornerstone” of the charity’s mission.

“In Wales, the impact of prostate cancer is significant, affecting 1 in 8 men, and 1 in 3 with a family history,” she said.

“By entering our second year of this dedicated testing tour, we are establishing a consistent presence in the community. We want to normalise the conversation around prostate health and make it as easy as possible for the males of Wales to understand their risk.”

The charity’s testing campaign aims to make prostate health checks more accessible by bringing testing to community settings including businesses, sports clubs and other local venues.

More information about Prostate Cymru and the work of the charity can be found on its website at: www.prostatecymru.com