Two men are gearing up for a trek taking in two of Greater Manchester football clubs.

Keith Lilley and Mark Farrington will march on April 27 to fundraise for Prostate Cancer UK, and to raise awareness of the disease. 

They will walk from Manchester United to Bolton Wanderers, a trek of over 15 miles. 

The pair, both aged 56, met while undergoing treatment for the disease, which they had both been diagnosed with in 2022. They are now recovering well following surgery. 

Keith, of Tonge Moor, said: "I was diagnosed with prostate cancer from a routine blood test, I would never have known if my partner hadn't bugged me. 

The Bolton News: Toughsheet Community StadiumToughsheet Community Stadium

"We had only been dating for a month at the time, and are still together, but she comes from a nursing background and said men should get checked up in their mid-50s. It's just as well that I did. 

"In treatment, I met a man called Mark Farrington from Horwich and saw him a few times. Then when I went to go for surgery at The Christie, I walked into the waiting room and he was there. 

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"We both had successful surgeries and recovery is going great. We have stayed friends and decided to do the walk." 

The Bolton News: Old TraffordOld Trafford (Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

To donate to Keith and Mark's fundraiser, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/k-lilley-1707325148505 

He continued: "He supports Manchester United and I support Bolton Wanderers, so we decided to walk from Old Trafford to the Toughsheet Community Stadium, then we will go to Horwich Cricket Club afterwards. 

"We wanted do the event to raise public awareness of the illness, as it is becoming more and more common. They call it a silent illness, as it doesn't show many symptoms." 

Bolton Wanderers will also put the fundraiser in their matchday program on April 20, the Saturday before the walk. 

Keith added: "Mark was on a bike ride in the Lake District when he fell off and broke his shoulder. He went to hospital, and when he had a blood test they found prostate cancer. 

"He was diagnosed at roughly the same time and we both had surgery in December 2022 at The Christie."