A FAMILY whose grandfather died of cancer are encouraging people to join in ‘Race For Life At Home’ and carry on the fight against the disease.

Louise McDowell, 37, was planning to run in memory of her father Eddie Evans by taking part in Race for Life 5k at The Promenade in Rhyl on Sunday June 7.

Due to the virus pandemic, Cancer Research UK have postponed the event - among others - to September.

Undeterred, Louise, a childminder from Rhyl, has set herself a Race for Life at Home challenge to do as many star jumps as possible in three minutes - every single day in May.

Daughters Seren, 12, Estelle 10, son Sol, aged six, and husband Barry McDowell, are also taking part in the challenge.

Louise said: “We just want to do whatever we can to help other people affected by cancer like us. Although we were planning to take part in the Race For Life event this June, this will be an activity where we can still remember my Dad and all the fun he brought us.”

Denbighshire Free Press:

L-R Estelle, Mother Louise and Seren McDowell

Eddie was diagnosed with late stage oesophageal cancer in November 2017.

He died at the age of 66 in August 2018 after the cancer spread to his liver.

Louise said: “My Dad became unwell so quickly. It was such a shock and we all miss him terribly.”

The retired environmental officer, from Anglesey, was ‘adored’ by his three grandchildren.

Last year Seren and Estelle took part in the 5k Race for Life in Rhyl in his memory whilst their mum, who was unable to take part due to injury, cheered them along on the side-lines along with Barry, Sol and Louise’s Mum Carole.

Louise added: “It was so emotional to see the girls go past the finish line. The back signs the kids were wearing said that he was the most kind and generous Taid and that he was their hero”.

The girls raised £800 for Cancer Research UK thanks to generous donations from friends and family.

Louise added: “We want to remember my Dad. We miss his jokes and his stories - he was so funny and he really loved his grandchildren. He cooked with them and helped them to learn Welsh.”

Thanks to the generosity of people across Rhyl, Race for Life participants last year raised £46,440 to support vital research to develop gentler and more effective treatments for cancer – a disease that will affect one in two people in the UK at some stage in their lives.

Many of the scientists and researchers funded by Cancer Research UK are currently being redeployed to help in the fight against Covid-19, including assisting with testing. By helping to beat coronavirus, the charity can lessen the impact it is having on the care of cancer patients.

Cassandra Miles, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson for Wales, said: “At a time when it feels like everything is at a standstill, there is one thing that hasn’t stopped, cancer.

“Our priority as a charity is ensuring that people affected by cancer are getting the support they need right now.

“But we are already getting people asking about doing Race for Life at Home because they don’t want to see the charity lose out on vital funding. It’s truly humbling to see the response.

“So, from their homes, we’d love for supporters to join us and Race for Life at Home in these challenging times.

“From a run or 5k walk around the garden to limbo in the living room, there is no wrong way to Race for Life at Home. With no entry fee, people might choose to twerk, limbo, star jump, squat, skip, dance, or come up with their own novel way of taking part and share it with friends.

“The message is very much that ‘while we might be apart, we’re doing this together’. There is no wrong way to get involved and join our community."

For information about how to take part in Race for Life at Home and to sign up, visit raceforlife.cancerresearchuk.org/about-our-events/race-for-life-at-home