A CERAMICS tutor at Aberystwyth Arts Centre has raised over £1,300 in aid of a charity which has helped him cope with a cancer diagnosis - by ‘clowning around’ in a supermarket.

John Reading, who lives in Penuwch, near Tregaron, and has worked at the arts centre for the past 26 years, had what he calls his ‘clown wig’ of long grey hair cut off during the fundraising event on Saturday, 12 May, in Morrisons.

John, 74, has been growing for the past year to raise money for Maggie’s cancer care centre in Swansea.

He was diagnosed with liver cancer in February last year, six years after being given the all-clear from previously having skin cancer.

John said that the new diagnosis left him feeling “very depressed and down”, but said his immunotherapy treatment at Singleton Hospital is looking like it is working.

John said that while “running 26 miles in a silly costume is not an option” for him, cutting off his hair to raise money will be a “shock enough to his system".

“It can also be quite a shock to the system finding out you have cancer. Hence the charity I am raising money for is Maggie’s cancer care centre in Swansea,” John said.

For information on John’s fundraising efforts and to donate to the cause, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/scalpedformaggies

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