ROCKER Mike Peters and a chef forced to close his acclaimed restaurant due to illness have supported each other during their battles with cancer.
One of North Wales’ most acclaimed restaurants, combining ingredients from the area with a relaxed and contemporary dining room, The Bistro was a popular destination under the ownership of chef Chris Lloyd.
But sadly, due to Chef Chris Lloyd’s ill health, the restaurant closed its doors for the final time in July last year.
Since being unexpectedly diagnosed with Richter's Syndrome in April of this year (on the eve of a 50 date American Tour), Mike Peters, of The Alarm, is now under the care of The Christie Hospital in Manchester and has just completed a course of R-Chop Chemotherapy and a new drug as part of the Stellar Clinical Trial.
Mike is preparing for a Stem Cell Transplant, as soon as a suitable unrelated matched donor is found from the international stem cell registry.
a week of gigs at The Red in Dyserth ahead of the launch of his autobiography LOVE.
He has been busy this week, hostingHe also delivered the opening speech at the World Cancer Congress 2024 in Geneva.
Mike's wife Jules shared the story of how Mike and Chris met to offer each other words of support as they are at different stages of the cancer treatment.
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Jules said: One day in The Red a few months ago, I bumped into a local guy called Chris.
"I didn’t really know Chris but knew of his reputation as a top chef at his much loved and very popular restaurant The Bistro in Rhyl.
"I had noticed some viral FB news about Chris recently, as he was forced to close down the Bistro almost over night when he was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
"That moment when your life turns from colour into black and white literally over night.
"We chatted through the complexities of living life with a blood cancer diagnosis hanging over your head. The anxieties and fears creeping in when you least expect it and managing the emotions to keep on living a good life.
"Since that meeting (when Chris enjoyed some of Dottie’s Lemon Meringue Cake at The Red), we’ve kept in touch, and more recently our ‘journeys’ have merged as we all find ourselves at The Christie.
"Rhyl goes to Manchester!"
Last week, Jules messaged Chris as he waited for treatment, asking if they could visit him.
He said yes, and they were able to spend time together.
Jules added: "And just like that, I pulled Mike off the bike and off we set, to investigate the transplant department!
"It was surreal!
"Washing our hands outside the main doors and in we went.
"It felt like a scene out of a movie. I felt a bit silly asking the Receptionist if we were allowed to visit but she just cheerily waved us though.
"And there he was. Chris, sat on his lonesome, patiently awaiting the next chapter of his life.
"Amazingly Chris’s stem cells were removed months before, taken overseas (USA we think) reengineered and delivered back to The Christie, to be replaced back with Chris and hopefully cure Chris’s Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
"This cutting edge treatment just takes your breath away.
"We sat there, the three of us waiting… Tick Tock
"We were helping Chris by visiting him during testing times and in return Chris was helping us by giving us an insight of what’s to come…
"As you can see, the room is big and there’s definitely space for a running machine in the corner!
"Next minute, the nurses started to appear and Chris’ big moment was about to happen.
"We slipped out of the room, knowing that it won’t be long before we’ll be next!"
"Please join us in wishing Chris all the luck in the world. Cancer can be a lonely business but there’s no need to be lonely if we all stick together and share our experiences.
"Any moment now we hope to receive news about Mike’s donor and a date for transplant…
"But for now we will keep on rocking.
"We look forward to Chris cooking up a storm in the future once he’s through all of this.
Mike and Jules praised the NHS.
Jules added.: "Thank goodness for our incredible NHS, offering us a lifeline and giving us hope
"We have so much to be grateful for."
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