Owain Twitchett was diagnosed with the disease in his early twenties after finding a lump while he was serving in the RAF in Wolverhampton. The 30-year-old, from Swansea, had a series of tests before he was told he had testicular cancer.
“It was a huge shock for me and I was away from home as well so I was on my own. As soon as my family found out what was going on they shot up there straight away,” he said. “I saw some specialists in Birmingham then I went down to Velindre in Cardiff where I had two cycles of chemotherapy in hospital.

“The staff were fantastic and they made me feel really comfortable.
“I lost all my hair but for me, the worst part was being stuck in hospital and not be able to go anywhere. After the first chemotherapy cycle I was able to go home and carry on with my life but I probably pushed myself a little bit too much.
“The second cycle knocked me for six. It took me a good month or so to get over that.”
After his chemotherapy Owain, who left the RAF and now works for BT, had a CT scan which revealed the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes by his kidneys and spine. He had to have surgery at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff.
“After going through all the chemotherapy it was upsetting to find out it had gone into my lymph nodes,” he said.
“It was not easy to hear, but I don’t think I would have got through it if I did not have so much support from my family.
“I now have regular check-ups to keep an eye on things.
“There are two types of testicular cancer – one which you are more likely to get when you are in your 20s and one which you are more likely to get later in life.
“Strangely I had the one you tend to get later in life.
“It seems like such a long time ago, I almost forget about it.”
Owain, who says he is the fittest he has ever been, joined the South Wales Police Triathlon Team in the charity cycle challenge to raise money for Velindre Cancer Centre. The team started in Conwy before travelling through Dolgellau, Aberaeron, Carmarthen before finishing in Mumbles, Swansea.
Sergeant Dean Llewellyn, the event organiser and participant, said: “The South Wales Police Triathlon team decided we would fundraise for a cancer charity this year, as it’s a disease that affects so many of our family, friends and colleagues.
“After meeting with the staff at Velindre Fundraising, and seeing what tremendous work they do, we wanted to do a undertake a challenge to try to raise as much as we can for this fantastic cause.”
The cycling challenge was one of a series of fundraising events planned this year by the team, culminating in Ironman Wales 2012 on September 16. Their progress can be followed on Twitter @swptriclub.
To donate visit www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/swptri
 

THEY may be more used to pounding the beat but now a group of super-fit bobbies are getting on their bikes for charity.

Members of South Wales Police's triathlon team are saddling-up for an ambitious coast-to-coast ride in aid of a cancer charity.

The trek will start in Conwy on the north Wales coast and will go 180 miles through Dolgellau, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, and on to the finishing line in Mumbles — all in 12 gruelling hours.

Proceeds from the ride will go the Velindre Cancer Centre, near Cardiff.

The man behind the two- wheeled marathon is Mark Allen, from St Thomas in Swansea.

The 34-year-old, who works in the force's public safety department, said: "This is going to be quite a challenge. Part of me is really looking forward to it, and part of me is a bit wary.

"They are a great bunch of lads and we've got a great support crew — we are really going to give it a go.

"If all goes well and we get some decent weather, it should take us somewhere in the region of 12 hours to complete.

"We'll be finishing at Verdi's ice cream parlour in Mumbles, and they are putting on food for us and organising a collection — they have been fantastic."

The 55-strong police triathlon team are twice winners and the current champions of the European Ironman Emergency Services competition.

When not beating medics, police and firefighters from the continent the Welsh squad takes part in events closer to home — last year they competed in the Ironman Wales contest in Tenby, raising £7,000 for Help For Heroes and £1,500 for Cystic Fibrosis along the way.

But this year the team will be putting all their fundraising efforts into boosting the coffers of Velindre — starting with the Welsh ride on Saturday.

Dad-of-two Mr Allen said: "The team is going from strength to strength, and recently a couple of non police have joined which is helping to strengthen ties with the community.

"One of our team was successfully treated at Velindre for testicular cancer, and we all decided we wanted to help the centre — they do absolutely amazing work there."

To donate click here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/swptri

THOUSANDS of breast cancer patients will benefit from the care of a specialist nurse as the result of a £800,000 donation.

The Moondance Foundation, which is run by Diane and Henry Englehardt, will fund four full-time specialist nurse posts at Velindre Cancer Centre for the next four years.

As she met the nurses for the first time today, Mrs Englehardt said she had been inspired to help after a friend was diagnosed with the disease.

And health chiefs at Velindre Cancer Centre said they would not have been able to fund the posts without such support.

Mrs Englehardt said: “A friend of mine had breast cancer and it has made me aware of the situation – there are thousands of women in the same situation.

“The doctors are providing what patients cannot survive without but the nurses will be providing so much support and while patient can live without that, it would be so much harder.

“I’m happy this will be a pilot that other hospitals will see. We now have four breast cancer specialist nurses but there are a lot of other cancers that need this help.

“I hope this will be a pilot and we can get support from other places and organisations. It’s a huge step forward.”

The specialist nurses will be working with some 1,200 women referred with early breast cancer every year from South East Wales and a further 200 cases of secondary breast cancer.

They will also be working with the 8,000 women who have received treatment for breast cancer at Velindre and are followed-up for 10 years.

Tej Quine, one of the new specialist nurses, said: “To patients we’re really their key worker; we’re a point of contact for them as well as offering psychological support and being able to act as a trouble-shooter.”

Dr Jacinta Abraham, a consultant clinical oncologist and clinical lead for breast cancer at Velindre, said: “I feel that we are now where we want to be – every breast cancer patient should have that level of contact when they come into an oncology setting.

“Six weeks ago that didn’t happen and there were huge variations in the support breast cancer patients would get.

“We, as doctors, help patients to live and the nurses help the patients to live well.”

Thanking Mrs Englehardt, Andrea Hague, director of cancer services at Velindre Cancer Centre, said: “It is great to see the nurses in post and the difference they are making after such a short time.”

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/04/25/800-000-donation-to-fund-specialist-nurses-at-velindre-cancer-centre-91466-30838871/#ixzz1t8y0RzR4

First Choice Housing Association held a coffee and cake morning to raise money for Velindre Cancer Centre.

The event raised over £300 for Velindre, which is the Association’s charity of the year as chosen by staff.

First Choice has held a variety of events through the year to raise money for the charity with the current total standing at £1,210.

Staff are currently in training for their next event which will be a ‘virtual’ bike ride around the Association’s properties in Wales and Shropshire. The staff team have taken on the challenge to cycle 540 miles around their properties on three static bikes in the office within 35 hours. Progress of the bike ride which starts on 4^th May can be monitored through the Association’s twitter and facebook accounts and the Association’s website.

Hilary Ryan, Chief Executive said “Velindre is a charity that is close to the hearts of our staff and they have made every effort to raise as much money as possible for this worthwhile cause. The generosity of those that attended our coffee morning was overwhelming and we raised far more money than we could have hoped for. A special thank you goes to our contractors MSH Building Limited who donated £200 and also to Dragon Catering who donated a delicious chocolate fudge cake.

“The bike ride will be our last big event for Velindre this year before our staff vote for another charity and we want to do them proud and raise even more money.”

Andrew Morris, Head of Velindre Fundraising said: “We are so grateful to all the staff at First Choice Housing for choosing Velindre as their charity of the year, and for all their hard work and dedication in raising vital funds for us. All the money raised will make a difference to our cancer patients and their families.”

If you would like to donate money to the First Choice bike ride please visit one of the following sites: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/fcha? Or http://www.justgiving.com/FCHA-BikeRide

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For further information and media enquiries please contact

Ceri Knight, Corporate Services Officer

on 02920 713764 or ceriknight@fcha.org.uk