NEARLY £18,000 has been raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) by the family and friends of a Narberth sportsman.

Just weeks after competing in his first half-Ironman last year, Tim Mills, now 21, was found to have acute lymphoblastic lymphoma.

He spent several months at the TCT unit in Cardiff, and in May began a two-and-a-half-year maintenance programme.

Now with a very good prognosis, Tim has been joining in the fundraising for the TCT and was proud to be at the community’s two latest cheque presentations to the charity at the Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth on Friday.

The grand total of £4,198.30 was raised by Tim’s Runners, who took part in the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, when Tim, girlfriend Rachel Thomas, his dad Aaron and brother Sam were amongst the 20-strong team.

And a further £8,432.72 was raised from a masked ball at the Plas Hyfryd later that month.

Raffle prizes and auction goods - including signed sporting memorabilia - were donated by local businesses and the evening was backed by the Princes Gate Trust.

The total presented on Friday night takes fundraising in support of Tim up to £17,950, including money raised by his brother Sam and Bill Ridge who took part in Ironman 2014; the proceeds of a Hallowe’en party at Narberth RAOB Club and a donation from Narberth CP School.

Tim’s mum, Alison Mills, thanked the ‘amazing community’ and family and friends for their fundraising for the TCT.

“The TCT unit relies solely on charitable funds to staff and support the patients, aged between 14 and 24, who have been diagnosed with cancer,” she said.