Father's positive effort for charity (From Barry And District News)

Father's positive effort for charity

A LLANTWIT Major man who successfully fought cancer twice has used his positive thinking to raise thousands for charity.

Dedicated fundraiser Mark Newbold has received the Achievement Award for 2003 from Llantwit Major Rotary Club for his work with the charity Tenovus.

Secretary of the organisation, Richard Vidler, presented the award.

Mark said: "I am just a normal guy who is raising money for charity. I am not special."

The father-of-two has successfully fought testicular cancer twice. The 36-year-old was first diagnosed with cancer at the age of 25 and beat it, but was told he was unlikely to have children.

He and his wife went ahead with IVF treatment to have children, but then Maria found she was pregnant naturally. Their daughter, Natasha, is now six.

But two years later, during Maria's second pregnancy, Mark discovered the cancer had returned.

Maria told the News: "It was a terrible time. Our new baby was growing inside me, but we did not know if Mark would be alive to see his child born."

But again, they stayed positive. Mark beat the cancer and Alexander arrived in August 2000.

The couple would now like more children. But as Mark has had both testicles removed, they will need to use his frozen sperm.

Mark, manager of Llantwit Major's West House Country Hotel, said: "I have found that you need to be positive in life. There is always someone worse off than you."

He is fronting the cancer charity Tenovus's campaign 'Check Your Tackle', encouraging men to discuss the possibility of getting testicular cancer.

So far Mark has walked hundreds of miles for charity and has raised more than £75,000.

He is set to run the London marathon in April.

To sponsor Mark, contact the Tenovus' headquarters on 029 2048 2000.

l For further information on any problems, phone Tenovus helpline, on 0808 808 1010.