Fundraising appeal launched to celebrate 20 years of the South West Wales Cancer Centre

Swansea legend Kev Johns MBE knows from experience how staff at the South West Wales Cancer Centre always go that extra mile for patients.

The hugely popular broadcaster, actor, and Swans matchday announcer and hospitality host has fought his own battle against cancer – at one low point fearing he would not see his next Christmas.

(Main image above: Kev Johns with Chemotherapy Day Unit manager Sue Rowland)

Fortunately, Kev had the all-clear last year, though he has ongoing treatment at the cancer centre, part of the city’s Singleton Hospital.

It celebrates its 20^th anniversary this month – and Kev is backing a £200,000 fundraising appeal launched today by Swansea Bay Health Charity, the health board’s official charity, to commemorate the landmark.

The appeal, Going the Extra Mile for Cancer, will support the thousands of patients from the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda areas who are cared for there every year, as well as relatives and staff.

The South West Wales Cancer Centre, SWWCC, is run by Swansea Bay University Health Board and provides a range of lifesaving NHS treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

(Left: Kev with CDU nurse Emma Morgan)

It was the brainchild of now-retired consultant oncologist Salah El-Sharkawi, who became clinical director of cancer services in 1996.

His vision of developing services locally led to the launch of a £500,000 fundraising campaign in partnership with the South Wales Evening Post to mark the turn of the millennium.

It ended up raising £1 million, triggering a £30 million investment by the health authority and Welsh Office that led to the SWWCC’s establishment.

The spirit of public generosity that was so evident more than 20 years ago has continued unabated ever since. Donations are regularly received from grateful patients, families and other supporters.

A major refurbishment of the Chemotherapy Day Unit, CDU which moved from its old home at the back of the hospital to Ward 9 last year, is now under way, paid for to the tune of £80,000 from existing charitable funds.

The centre team hopes Going the Extra Mile for Cancer will support their next big project – converting the old CDU building into a dedicated outpatient suite complete with a warm and welcoming waiting area.

Watch out for more details soon.

The appeal will also support improved patient care and staff well-being across all wards and departments within the SWWCC.

Donations will help fund equipment, staff training, research and special projects, above and beyond what the NHS can provide.

In the days and weeks ahead, we’ll be shining a light on various aspects of the cancer centre’s often groundbreaking work, its dedicated staff, and some of the many fundraisers already going the extra mile to help others.

Kev is urging everyone support their local cancer centre by getting behind the appeal, either through donations or by organising fundraising events.

The 63-year-old recently appeared in a production of prison drama Conviction, written by Mark Cainen, at Swansea’s Grand Theatre.

But that was nothing compared to the dramatic turn his own life took when a routine blood test in March 2021 highlighted an iron deficiency.

(Right: Kev with chemotherapy nurse Courtney Davies)

Tests later confirmed he had a tumour on his kidney but also lesions on his lungs, which meant surgery was not an option.

“I had stage four cancer,” he said. “There is no stage five. I had a GP look at my notes and tell me to go home and prepare my family to sign a do not resuscitate order. It was that serious.

“I remember taking my family on holiday to Disneyland Paris at a time when, in my head, I didn’t have a future. Nothing had been said to make me think that – the oncology team had always been positive.

“At the time it was about managing a tumour they couldn’t get rid of, and I still had those secondary lesions on my lungs.”

This was in late 2022 and, for Kev, the show literally had to go on regardless of his health issues. Keeping his diagnosis private, he starred in his 25^th Grand Theatre panto, Beauty and the Beast.

On his days off, Kev attended the CDU for immunotherapy treatment which cleared the lesions. That opened the way for surgery, which was carried out in Morriston Hospital last September.

He was back home a few days later and was later given the all-clear. He went on to appear in Cinderella at the Grand Theatre.

“There was such a massive difference in me from Beauty and the Beast, which was during that very difficult time, and Cinderella,” he said. “Everyone will say how different I was.

“It was like a massive weight had been lifted off me, in more ways than one. I lost six-and-a-half stone in weight. By choice. I was a lot thinner, which caused a lot of panic in the wardrobe department and still does!”

Kev, who still receives monthly immunotherapy at the CDU, is now getting ready for this year’s panto, Jack and the Beanstalk – one of his favourites.

Held once again at the Grand Theatre, it will see him appear alongside DJ and broadcaster Scott Mills, amongst others.

“It’s getting closer,” Kev said. “And it’s always great to welcome NHS staff to the panto. Some of the theatre staff come every year as a group and have seats fairly close to the front.

“You recognise them because you can always see the first few rows. It’s great, and I know a number of staff from the CDU are coming as well.”

He has vowed to do everything he can to support Going the Extra Mile for Cancer and is urging everyone in Swansea Bay and beyond to follow suit.

“Maybe you could organise a tea party, a coffee morning, maybe do a 10k or 5k run or a sponsored walk – anything to support the appeal,” he said.

“It’s a remarkable centre, without doubt the best. Let’s make it better and give them the support they need to do the job to help us.

“The staff are marvellous. Nothing is too much trouble for them. They are truly an amazing group of people.

“Not just in their professionalism but in their spirit as well. They care. The empathy they have for patients is amazing. They know their patients like friends, like family. They are incredible – all of them no matter the colour of their uniform. I can never repay them for what they did for me.”

Follow this link to find out more about our Going the Extra Mile for Cancer appeal.

Or follow this link to our Enthuse fundraising page if you would like to donate.

Swansea Bay Health Charity (registered charity number 1122805) is the official charity of Swansea Bay University Health Board.

With your help the charity raises money for pioneering research, cutting-edge equipment, enhancing buildings and spaces, patient and family wellbeing and staff training which are not covered by core NHS funding.