A Cwmbran family is preparing to tackle a 5km muddy obstacle course in memory of a well‑known Thornhill fundraiser – and several other relatives lost to cancer.
Les Lavender, from Thornhill, died in 2008, three years after his wife Jean – both from cancer.
He started the Les Lavender Cancer Crusade following Jean’s passing to support cancer charities. In a couple of years, he raised around £14,000.
Wendy Mitchell, his daughter, said her dad worked “tirelessly”, raising around £14,000 through “multiple fundraising events including a 26-mile walk and a 24-hour pub Olympics”.
The family wants to restart Les’s efforts and is taking part in the Cardiff Pretty Muddy 5km in May.
Their fundraising page says: “We are taking part in the Pretty Muddy 5K not only for my mum and dad, but also for other family members – including father-in-law Andy and grandad John — and for the many friends and families who have been affected by cancer
Wendy said that her family would have to “pull” her over some of the obstacles.
“They soak you with water pistols, there’s pools of mud, you clamber under cargo netting. It sounds like a lot of fun if you like that sort of thing,” she joked.
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📸 (left to right) Kayleigh Mitchell (Wendy’s daughter), Brandon Withers (Kayleigh’s boyfriend), Bradley Mitchell (Wendy’s son), Timothy Coates (Wendy’s brother-in-law) and Wendy.