A BALA couple whose world was turned upside down by a bowel cancer diagnosis will raise money and awareness of the disease with a 24-hour plastering challenge.

In December 2019, Llinos Jones was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 38. The mother-of-four said the diagnosis “was the last thing we were expecting and turned our world upside down”.

Llinos said: “I originally saw the consultant in December 2018 due to my symptoms and was told it was probably haemorrhoids as I have four children and was considered too young for it to be anything to worry about.”

But blood in her stool eventually led to a bowel cancer diagnosis. Intensive treatment followed, as Llinos recalls: “I was fortunate to receive life-saving surgery in January 2020 followed by chemotherapy from a fantastic team of surgeons, doctors and nurses at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. I am very pleased to be able to say that my treatment has been successful.”

Husband Meirion is hoping to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK by putting his plastering skills to the test.

“He is doing this 24 hour plastering challenge next Thursday, 28 October,” Llinos explained, “skimming walls in Bron Y Graig, the old residential home in Bala.

“He is doing the challenge not only to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK, but to also raise awareness and get the message out there that you are never too young to be diagnosed with bowel cancer or any other cancer.

“If you have any symptoms you should not hesitate to see your GP as early diagnosis is key. If we can help even just one person, that would be great.”

Meirion set himself a target of £500 but the couple are thrilled that their fundraising page has already received £1,195. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LLINOS-JONES21.