01/07/2026
LAPS4LIVES
‘Laps4Lives’ enduro challenges government apathy towards NZ’s most diagnosed cancer
23-year European study confirms PSA testing stops men dying from prostate cancer, yet New Zealand still refuses to fund even a small-scale screening pilot.
“I’ll keep running for as long and as hard as I can.” Prostate cancer survivor pledges to try to raise $1.6 million, the same amount needed to fund one year of a PSA screening pilot.
Prostate cancer survivor Danny Bedingfield is taking on one of the most brutal endurance challenges in Aotearoa to prove a point that could save hundreds of New Zealand men’s lives.
On 17th January 2026, Danny will line up at the start of the M*A*S*H Backyard Ultra at Queen Elizabeth Park, Kāpiti Coast, a gruelling day-and-night endurance race where competitors must complete a 6.7 km lap every 60 minutes, until they can’t go on. There’s no finish line - only the last runner left standing.
Danny’s goal is to run more than 160 km (100 miles), running for over 24 hours in a bid to raise $1.6 million to support those affected by prostate cancer and the same amount experts* say would fund the first year of a PSA screening pilot that could save the lives of hundreds of Kiwi men.
“I’ve set the $1.6 million target because that’s how much it would cost the country to fund one year of PSA screening pilot in two regions of New Zealand,” he says. “It’s a drop in the ocean when you compare it to other health care campaigns, and it shouldn’t take a private citizen to prove that point. I’m sick of government apathy and inertia causing the avoidable deaths of men in this country.”
At just 37, Danny was diagnosed with prostate cancer, only months after his father died from the same disease. “I made a promise to my mum at my dad’s funeral that I’d have PSA test, I was sure I was far too young to be affected, so it was an easy promise to make. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too young, and the PSA test saved my life.”.
Now cancer-free, he’s frustrated that the Government still refuses to even discuss funding a small-scale two centre pilot of PSA screening, despite overwhelming international evidence that testing saves lives.
“It feels like we’re screaming into a void,” continues Danny. “The science is clear, and the cost is minimal. The M*A*S*H Backyard Ultra is open to everyone to take part, and I’d be honoured to have the Minister of Health, Hon Simeon Brown join me for a lap or two. I’d love to understand why prostate cancer is not taken seriously within the Ministry of Health. It feels very much like the message to New Zealanders is over 700 prostate cancer deaths every year is totally acceptable and unavoidable.”
Danny is clear that continued inaction will only lead to the death of more men. “It’s unconscionable that this happening when all the evidence points to the ability of PSA screening to save lives.
“Every lap I run, I intend to carry the name of a man whose life was cut short by prostate cancer,” says Danny. “I can run because early detection through a simple PSA test saved mine. I’m determined to keep running and running for those who never got that chance.
Asked if he was confident he could raise $1.6 million, Danny acknowledges that is a lot for one person to raise. “I’m committed to running for as long as I can and raising as much as I can to provide vital support to those affected by prostate cancer and maybe even raise as much a screening pilot’s first year would cost. I know it won’t be easy, but a few hours of hell are nothing in comparison to knowing early detection could have saved a loved one’s life.”
New study proves what survivors have known all along
A landmark European study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine has reignited calls for change.
The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) has now tracked more than 150,000 men undergoing PSA screening for 23 years.
“After 23 years of follow-up, this study shows what many of us have long believed, PSA screening saves lives,” says Urologist Dr Jim Duthie. “The ERSPC trial found a 13 percent reduction in prostate cancer deaths, even without the benefit of modern tools like MRI or safer, more accurate biopsy techniques. In real practice, where screening is tailored to a man’s age, family history and risk factors, we know the benefits are even greater.
“The mortality benefit is similar to those achieved through breast and bowel cancer screening programmes, both of which are funded nationally in New Zealand. The longer these studies run, the clearer it becomes, modern prostate cancer screening is more effective, safer, and less likely to lead to unnecessary treatment than ever before.”
Despite these results, the New Zealand Government has declined to fund the logical next step, a modest prostate cancer screening pilot. Independent modelling by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) shows a PSA screening pilot could run for as little as $1.6 million per year and cost a total of just $6.4 million over four years, while creating substantial economic benefits in the pilot centres.
Peter Dickens, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation NZ, says the country is falling dangerously behind other countries we measure ourselves against.
“PSA testing has been debated for years, but the science is now clear: when used in a structured fashion as we do in New Zealand with breast cancer, it saves lives. New Zealand urgently needs to catch up. While we wait, men are dying when we know early detection can save lives.
“We know the government and health agencies have an open invitation on their desk to join the current world leading international programme of prostate cancer screening pilots and are ignoring it. This makes no sense”
Advocates, including Mr Duthie are urging the Ministry of Health and Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora to reconsider New Zealand’s position and pilot prostate cancer screening to gather vital intelligence essential to our unique population and understand how best to implement modern PSA testing in local settings.
“This is a no-brainer investment in men’s health,” continues Mr Duthie. “For $1.6 million, the cost of a modest four-bedroom home in some parts of Auckland, we could generate life-saving evidence.”
Support Laps for Life
Danny’s one-man campaign, ‘Laps4Life’, will test his endurance to its limits. To help him raise $1.6 million to supporting men with prostate cancer and the same amount needed to fund one year of a PSA screening pilot. Link to fundraising
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Notes for editors:
· New England Journal of Medicine, Oct 30 2025, Vol.393, No. 17 “European Study of Prostate Cancer Screening – 23-Year Follow-up” N Engl J Med 2025;393:1669-80. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2503223
· *“The case for screening: Cost-effectiveness of a PSA-based population screening programme for prostate cancer in New Zealand”, NZIER report to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, December 2022
Facts about prostate cancer:
· Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand with around 4,000 diagnosed every year [exceeding breast cancer levels], at an average of 10 every day.
· Prostate cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in men after lung cancer, and the third highest for all sexes (behind lung and bowel cancers).
· More than 700 men die on average every year from prostate cancer.
· Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.
· 61% of prostate cancer survivors say they had no symptoms when diagnosed.
· A PSA blood test is all it takes to start the process – simple and quick.
· Anyone can get prostate cancer, including transgender women, male-assigned non-binary or intersex people.
For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Sandy Trigg, Network Communication
021 231 9406