AN ABERTILLERY woman has raised more than £1,220 for the fight against colon cancer after her father was diagnosed with the illness.

Lisa Bytheway, 29, originally of Llanhilleth, was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a long-term condition affecting the bowels after losing nine stone in weight for her wedding last year.

Mrs Bytheway’s condition prompted her father Mark Price to visit his GP and he was diagnosed with colon cancer in January of this year.

She said: “Bowel movement is an embarrassing subject to talk about, especially for men.

“If you’re open about these things the chance is that more family members will get checked.”

Mr Price, 53, of West End, Abercarn is currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.

The mum of two, with the help of family and friends, organised a fundraiser which took place on Sunday at the Llanhilleth Miners Institute raising £1,220.35 for the centre’s Undercover Appeal which aims to support research into bowel cancer.

Around 159 people attended the fundraiser which featured a cupcake stall, face painting, a teddy bear stall, raffle and an appearance by the Easter Bunny and Peppa Pig.

Raffle prizes were donated from local businesses and staff from Shine Hair and Beauty Salon in Blaina provided manicures at the event.

Mrs Bytheway said: “I’m doing it on behalf of both me and my brother Tom who’s 10-years-old.

“We just want our dad to be better.

“He found out early enough for treatment but he will need surgery after the chemotherapy.

“We were walking one day and I was explaining my symptoms of sharp stomach pains and that there is usually a close family link with the condition – dad had some of the same symptoms as me, now that he has colon cancer there is a greater risk that I could develop it in the future.”

She added: “It was a great turnout, a real family fun event.

“All the community came out to help me.

“I wouldn’t have been able to raise this much without my Team B girls who all helped. They all knew how much this meant to me to do it for my dad.”

Mrs Bytheway will be attempting to climb Mount Snowdon for the charity in July. For more information visit http://on.fb.me/1kDuzpO