A relative’s experience of radiotherapy inspired Ailish McGrail to take up a career that has led to her winning an all-Wales award.

Ailish, a therapeutic radiographer at Singleton Hospital, has been named Wales Radiography Professional of the Year.

It was not just a recognition of her work at the South West Wales Cancer Centre but also extra-curricular activities to raise money for the centre’s charitable fund and looking after the wellbeing of her colleagues.

Ailish, who is organising a big fundraising event in support of the cancer centre in her home town of Maesteg next month, was so determined to become a radiographer she wouldn’t let an early setback stop her.

“A relative of mine had radiotherapy when I was 14,” she said. “That was when I learned about radiotherapy because I didn't know about it. And I just decided that was something I wanted to do.

“I didn't get into university the first year because I didn't have the right qualifications. So, I contacted the university to ask what I had to do.

“I then did a certificate of higher education in health sciences through the Open University and that got me on to the course back in 2018. I knew I wanted to work here in Singleton because this is where I did my training.”

The award was based on Ailish’s wellbeing and charity work. Around two years ago she began fundraising for the cancer centre’s charitable fund, which comes under the Swansea Bay Health Charity umbrella.

“I started small, doing raffles and bake sales in work,” she said. “That raised £4,500 in a year and a half and I'm currently in the middle of organising a massive fundraiser at Maesteg RFC.”

That takes place on Saturday, August 15^th, with a family fun day with a range of attractions from 1pm-5pm, followed by a night of music and a prize draw taking place between 5pm and midnight.

The proceeds will go to the Swansea Bay Health Charity’s Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal, which aims to raise £200,000 for the centre.

And when she is not organising charity fundraisers, Ailish is busy looking after her colleagues as the team’s wellbeing champion.

“I've always been interested in mental health, wellbeing, things like that, so I did a master's module in psychology of cancer care,” she said.

“I do a lot of stuff for wellbeing for the Department. We organise wellbeing days so the staff get together outside of work. We get funding from Macmillan for that.

“I do a newsletter every month, with exciting things coming up for everybody in their personal lives. It’s something to get everyone talking.

“I know how important mental health is, so that's why I try so hard to promote that in work. It's such a high intensity role and obviously we work with cancer which can be quite mentally draining.”

Ailish was nominated for the award by lead radiographer Nadia Saunders, but in secret. The first she knew about it was when she was contacted inviting her to the presentation evening after she had been shortlisted.

Work commitments meant she could not attend, but then she received an email informing her she had won.

While she could not make the award ceremony, Ailish was still presented with her award in person when Katie Thompson, President of the Society of Radiographers, visited the South West Wales Cancer Centre (pictured).

“It was great,” Ailish said. “I was quite excited about it if I'm honest. I don't do the wellbeing activities and fundraising for attention. I just know how important they are, and I love organising them.

“I love the job. Absolutely love it. Like I said, I knew this was something I wanted to do from a young age. I just knew how great it made me feel, knowing that the treatment my relative received made him better.

“I wanted to make other people feel the way I felt and my family felt. We only see these patients 15 minutes a day for a couple of weeks, so just being that kind face goes a long way with a lot of them.

“Knowing that I'm doing the best that I can to help these people makes me feel like I'm achieving something and doing something good.”

Follow this link for tickets to the evening event.

Follow this link for a full list of prizes and details of how to buy raffle tickets.