A HUSBAND and wife who were both diagnosed with cancer within 12 months of each other are turning their energies to fundraising.

Janice and Tony Yates are organizing a Family Fun Day at the Morton Arms in Kinmel Bay to raise money for Cancer Research UK, despite both undergoing treatment for cancer.

Mrs Yates - who was diagnosed with grade three breast cancer in August 2018 - has made it her mission to support the charity following her husband’s diagnosis with incurable multiple myeloma on Thursday, August 29.

Mrs Yates, a grandmother to three aged 48 from Rhyl, said: “Tony’s diagnosis has been really difficult, it’s been like a rollercoaster.

“But we’re still going to plough on. Neither Tony or myself are ones to sit moping around and we’re not dwelling on it.

“It’s not just about being proactive, the money we raise for charity means less people have to live through this like we have.”

Taxi driver Mr Yates, 50, first became aware that he had a form of cancer while on a family holiday in Lanzarote in July, which was initially believed to affect the bones of his spine. However, following tests it has been found to in fact be a type of bone marrow cancer.

He is due to begin a course of treatment at Glan Clwyd in the coming weeks, however Mrs Yates is coming to terms with the effects of her illness, despite completing courses of radio and chemotherapy as well as surgery in Glan Clwyd in February.

Mrs Yates, who used to work as a mobile hairdresser, said: “I’m not completely out of the myself woods yet.

“I’m still not in remission and it’s still in the back of my mind. As my oncologist says, you’re never fully cured, so it is a struggle.

“I have to take tablets and I have issues with mobility after the chemo, which has destroyed my muscles.

“I also have what they call ‘Chemo brain’ which means I can’t do things like drive. Recently, I got lost in the hills when making the drive to my daughter’s house that I have done 100 times because of the brain fog.

“With our treatments there’s a lot that’s out of our control and that we can’t do – but we can do this. This event is something we can manage.

“Organizing an event like this much is a strain, but I’m so glad to have help from my friends Emily Cooke and Gill Morton and all the people who have supported us.”

Miss Cooke said: “I genuinely don’t know how Jan does it, or many people who would have the strength to think of others while they’re still going to the clinic.

“She is phenomenal, they both are.”

The couple and their supporters will raise funds with a bake sale and raffle, as well as featuring performances by entertainers Rebecca Parry, Hefin Roberts, Tommy Barron and Sami Brooke on Friday, September 13 from 2pm.

Miss Cooke added: “They want to give the best night they can throw together, so we’re shaking the tree to get as much as we can and anybody or any business that wants to support us would be greatly appreciated.”

To support the event, contact Miss Cooke on 07756075053.