Risca dad battling cancer is Argus Dad of the Year

Andrew Purvis was nominated by his step-daughter Bethan Morgan, 12, who felt he deserved a treat because, despite his illness he still makes the effort to teach her and her brother Adam, 14, things and is always making them laugh.

Mr Purvis, 46, and his fiancée Sian Levi, 43, will enjoy an overnight stay at Cardiff’s Hilton hotel, and a special three-course Father’s Day dinner with the family at the hotel's award winning Razzi restaurant tomorrow evening.

The former steelworker, who trained to be a nurse after being made redundant in 2002, said he was delighted to win our prize worth £300.

He said: "I thought it was fab, I didn’t even know Bethan had nominated me to be honest.

"Her mum helped her to email it, but it was all from Bethan, I read it following day and it was quite emotional. I’m really, really chuffed."

The former soldier, who served in Northern Ireland with the Royal Corps of Transport, was diagnosed was a brain tumour in March after suffering headaches and blurred vision, which eventually caused him to collapse at work.

Shortly after he underwent an operation to remove 95 per cent of the growth and has just finished eight weeks of radiotherapy.

Bethan's letter said: "He makes us laugh and teaches us things...I think he deserves this treat because he was in the Army and is now a nurse helping people and now we have to help him."

The family were due to fly to Mexico this week but the trip had to be cancelled because he is unable to fly and is soon to start six months of chemotherapy treatment.

But Mr Purvis, who also has a daughter Zowie Purvis, 21, is determined not to let the disease beat him and is looking forward to marrying Miss Levi later this year after the couple brought forward their wedding plans.

He said the support he is getting from family and friends - including Bethan and Adam's dad Simon Morgan, 43 - was helping him keep an open mind about his future and stay strong.