Hitchin's Market Place played host to a worthy fund-raising initiative.

A team of fitness enthusiasts led by a Hertfordshire firefighter have smashed an NHS charity's 14,000 Challenge to raise awareness of men's health issues.

The team, headed up by firefighter and GoFiit Nutrition owner Andrew McKenzie, aimed to do 14,000 push-ups in three hours, but they smashed their target and did an incredible 20,000 push-ups in Hitchin's Market Place.

The challenge was launched by East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity and takes its inspiration from Prostate Cancer UK research, which estimates that approximately 14,000 men in the UK have gone untested for prostate cancer because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Previous NHS research found that half of people delayed going to see their GP during the height of the pandemic because they didn't want to burden the health service.

The drop is also compounded by the fact that early prostate cancer rarely has symptoms that would prompt men to visit their GP. If diagnosed early, prostate cancer is very treatable. 

Andrew said: "Thank you to everyone that came along and supported us. It meant a lot to us and helped us go that extra mile to smash the target.

"I'm so proud of my team. We did this to help raise awareness of men's health, especially in getting checked for prostate cancer and from the feedback we received, we did just that.

"We are still raising funds, so if you can, please support us at: www.justgiving.com/gofiitpushupchallenge. 

"We'd like to thank Driift for donating T-shirts, DSigns for donating the banner and The Yoga Shed, Alex Goulding, MiBodyX, Archers Gym and Hitchin swimming pool, Rise Gym in Stevenage and Welwyn Garden City, Maddocks Training, Daisy's Kitchen and Stevenage Family Butchers for all kindly donating raffle prizes." 

East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals' Charity, which supports Hertford County Hospital, Lister Hospital, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and the New QEII Hospital, is inviting people to take on their own 14,000 Challenge – it could be 14,000 steps, 14,000 lengths or even 14,000 kilometres – to raise funds to support men's health projects. 

To set up your own 14,000 Challenge fundraiser visit: www.justgiving.com/campaign/14000challenge