A cancer survivor from Swansea is set to take part in a charity boxing match to honour the memories of his father and a good friend, both of whom he tragically lost to cancer, and raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Lee Morris, from Waunarlwydd, was just 25 when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer - but has fortunately recovered from the disease, thanks to treatment and surgery.
Sadly, his father, Vernon Morris, and close friend, Rhodri Jones, weren't so lucky. "Fit and healthy" Vernon died last year at the age of 70 following a battle with bladder cancer, whilst Rhodri passed away in 2006 following a diagnosis of osteosarcoma, bone cancer, at the age of just 19.
At the time of Rhodri's diagnosis, Rhodri and Lee played rugby together and Rhodri was in his second year at Cardiff Metropolitan University studying sociology. He loved sport and for a while before his diagnosis, he thought his pains and aches were due to a sports injury. Sadly, despite the best efforts of medics and Rhodri bravely facing extensive treatment, he could not beat the disease. You can get the biggest Swansea news stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
Now 42, Lee wants to commemorate his late father and good friend by raising as much money for charity as he can. No stranger to intense challenges, Lee has previously run across the Great Wall of China, through the Amazon jungle and up the Swiss Alps to raise funds for cancer charities.
This time, however, he'll be taking to the boxing ring for a charity boxing match, organised by Ultra White Collar Boxing. Lee will have had eight weeks training before the showcase event in front of hundreds of spectators in Swansea later this month - and hopes to raise hundreds of pounds for Cancer Research UK.
"Rhodri's parents and circle of close friends set up the Rhodri Memorial Fund [after his passing]. Since then, I've been running and raising money for them," said Lee. "Hopefully we've helped someone. I have always been a keen runner since school, but it wasn't until I had cancer myself that I got a bit obsessed with running, and over the years it's just snowballed."
"It was a close community growing up, so it was really difficult," he added. "I remember before Rhodri got his diagnosis, we were playing rugby and he was in a lot of pain and discomfort but just put it down to a sports injury. A year later he sadly passed away."
Lee, who has a 19-month-old daughter, Thea, with his partner of six years, Natalie Meredith, also said losing his dad last year "really hit the family hard" as it came as a shock as he was "so healthy". He hopes to make his dad and friend proud by going out of his comfort zone with the boxing match.
"It's really out of my comfort zone. I did take part in another boxing event about four years ago, and I really enjoyed the experience," he said. "Anything to raise money for a great cause. This will be my last boxing event. Before I get old, I want to experience it once more! I'm looking forward to the buzz and the great atmosphere on the night."
The Ultra White Collar Boxing charity fundraiser event in Swansea is taking place on November 19, 2022, at the Liberty Stadium. It's been dubbed a "glamorous black tie event" and is one of several taking place across the UK to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. As of November 8, the Swansea event has sold out.
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