A FATHER-OF-FOUR who has been battling a brain tumour for years has been rocked by a cruel cancer diagnosis.

Steffan Owen, 39, is a well known figure throughout Meirionnydd having raised thousands of pounds for charity since he was diagnosed with a brain tumour which doctors say will drastically shorten his life.

However, after experiencing a series of troubling symptoms in recent months, which he put down to the brain tumour, Steffan of Dolgellau and his fiancée Leah Skelton Morris checked into Ysbyty Gwynedd at the end of April, where he received the heart-wrenching diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia.

The inspirational former care worker, who lives in Dolgellau, has organised and participated in numerous running challenges over the last few years and raised over £5,000 for charities that are close to his heart, such as the Brain Tumour Charity and the Walton Centre in Liverpool.

Steffan is currently undergoing weeks of chemotherapy and due to the risk of infection, he is not allowed to see his four children – Olivia, 17; Alfie, 12; Layla, 10; and Idris, who will be celebrating his first birthday soon.

Upon hearing the tragic news, Steffan wrote online: “I’m in Bangor hospital and that’s where I’ll remain for a long while.

“We had the news broken to us that I have leukaemia.

“With weeks, maybe months, of treatment I will fight this.

“Unfortunately I will not be allowed to see my children because of the risk of infection from them from school

“Thank you for all your good luck messages, I really wasn’t expecting this. Devastated.”Friends and work colleague's of Leah have been fundraising to help her travel to and from Bangor whilst Steff is in hospital.For more information, or to donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/steffaleah

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News