15 April 2026
After more than three decades of running, 75-year-old David Brooke-Taylor knows a thing or two about resilience.
A member of Townsville Road Runners since 1989, David has clocked up more than 600 Saturday runs and over 130 Parkruns since 2017. But his running journey hasn’t come without setbacks.
Over the years, he’s faced open heart surgery, two hip resurfacings, and most recently, prostate cancer.
In late 2023, a routine PSA test raised concerns. Further investigation, including a biopsy, confirmed prostate cancer with a Gleason score of 7.
“I considered my options carefully,” David says. “I chose surgery, hoping the side effects would pass more quickly and that I could avoid further treatment.”
In March 2025, he underwent a complex prostatectomy that lasted more than five hours after the cancer was found to have spread further than expected.
While his initial recovery was strong, a prolonged illness overseas led to further complications, including hernias that required additional surgery and delayed his recovery.
But David isn’t one to stay down for long.
Now back at parkrun, he’s rebuilding his strength step by step. Currently running in short intervals, he has already brought his 5km time down to 42 minutes.
“I’m one of the lucky ones,” he says. “It was caught early and treated effectively.”
Determined to give back, David has signed up for the 10km event at the Townsville Running Festival and is aiming to raise more than $3,000 for prostate cancer research and support.
Every step he takes now is about more than just the finish line.
Support David’s journey: http://fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/davidbrooke-taylor
For more information about prostate cancer, or to find a support group, visit www.prostate.org.au or phone 1800 22 00 99 to speak with a Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse.
