AN Aberystwyth man has thanked people for their kindness after raising almost £1,300 for charity on the 10th anniversary of his dad’s cancer diagnosis.

And to top it off, Stefano Antoniazzi’s dad has been lucky enough to receive pioneering blood cancer treatment which could mean he will no longer require chemotherapy.

Stefano, whose father, Pier, ran the Express Café on Alexandra Road — now Express Fish & Chips — for 35 years, shaved off his distinctive red beard after three years of allowing it to grow to raise money for the Cardiff-based charity, Bloodwise, formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

Pier Antoniazzi, 72, who moved to Aberystwyth with his family from Italy when he was just 12 years old, was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia, a slow-developing blood cancer, 10 years ago.

Stefano, who is also a youth football coach at Aberystwyth Town FC Academy, said this week that his father had been left “gobsmacked” by people’s generosity after he raised £1,293.64.

“We were all quite touched by the amount of money raised,” said Stefano, who works at the Ceredigion Council pupil referral unit in Aberaeron.

“My original target was to raise £200 and I have smashed that, so I’m really pleased.

“My dad was so chuffed, but also gobsmacked by the level of support — not only the money, but the kind messages left on the JustGiving page.

“A lot of people didn’t realise he had been diagnosed, so after the story went in the Cambrian News, I was getting quite a lot of messages through from people.”

If you would like to help Stefano raise more money for Bloodline, donations can still be made by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stefano-antoniazzi1.

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