Retired headteacher and athletics coach Dic Evans and his partner Liz Hughes are supporting the appeal to raise £500,000 for a purpose-built chemotherapy day unit at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

And they are urging local communities to get behind the appeal too.

Dic raised a massive £14,373 for the chemotherapy day unit in 2020 by running 1,000 miles in 100 days.

The 75-year-old veteran runner ran an average of 10 miles a day, every day, during lockdown and donations came flooding in from as far afield as Australia, Canada and the USA – from past pupils and parents, fellow athletes and numerous unknown donors.

Dic who lives in Abermagwr, in the Ystwyth Valley, said he decided to raise money for the chemotherapy unit after Liz was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and received treatment at the unit.

“The unit at Bronglais Hospital is a much-needed service for Ceredigion and the wider mid, west and north Wales,” he said.

“The staff in the unit are wonderful, extremely caring and very hard-working and they need our support to enhance and expand the facilities and treatments they can provide.”

These sentiments were echoed by 65-year-old Liz, who said: “The staff on the chemotherapy day unit are amazing. They care so much about their patients. I know it will be helpful to staff and patients to have better facilities in a new unit.”

Dic said he was confident that local communities would give their backing to the appeal, which is aiming to provide a modern, fit-for-the-future chemotherapy day unit to improve the patient experience.

He added: “Nearly every family knows someone who has been affected by cancer. Our communities are very generous and I am sure they will support the Bronglais Chemo Appeal. The sooner we have a purpose-built chemotherapy unit with up-to-date facilities the better.”

Dic is involved with the annual Red Kite Challenge, an off-road race which starts at Devil’s Bridge. This year’s event will be on 30 April and the proceeds will be going to the appeal, Dic said.

“The race is for everyone, from secondary-school age up. Schoolchildren do a couple of miles and adults can do a half-marathon or 10k. It would be great if we can get as many people as possible to take part.”

For details on the race and to download an entry form, go to www.redkite-barcudcoch.org.uk To contact the organisers email [email protected] or phone Dic Evans on 07773 435073.