LIONS and Wales captain Sam Warburton travelled to Pwllheli Rugby Club to help raise money for an Olympian rugby player struck down with cancer.

Ian Jones, Pwllheli RFC coach, organised the fund-raiser for one of his former players Jillion Potter, who captained the United States rugby sevens team in the Rio Olympics last year. Ian worked with Jillion several years ago whilst he was working across the Atlantic Ocean and became friendly with the talented player.

The rugby coach helped Jillion on her way to becoming a top player as she won medals and awards across the globe.

Sadly, after representing her country at the 2014 Rugby World Cup, Jillion was struck down with Stage III synovial sarcoma, a cancer that occurs in soft tissues.

Incredibly, especially considering Jillion severely broke her neck in 2010, the rugby player battled her way back to play in the 2016 games, becoming a cultural icon by doing so.

However, her battle with cancer is still not at an end after she was diagnosed with a new tumour earlier this year.

“Jillion Potter is currently undergoing treatment in Denver, Colorado for Synovial Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer,” said Ian, explaining why he had set up the fund-raiser for his former player. What makes Jillion’s story so remarkable and such a worthy cause is that she’s already beaten cancer once to make the first U.S. Olympic Women’s Rugby team in Rio last year, now she has to do it again, and over in the United States it doesn’t come cheap.”

Ian organised two events, one at Pwllheli and one at Mold, and is hopeful the events have raised “thousands of pounds”.

Jillion was touched by the efforts made by Llyn Peninsula residents.

“‘Thank you’ does not seem sufficient to express my gratitude for your willingness to assist in our fund-raising effort,” she wrote in an emotional letter.

To donate to Jillion’s cause, please visit www.youcaring.com/jillionpotter-732222See this week's north editions for the full story, in shops and online now