A former chairman of Powys County Council is celebrating after raising more than £8,000 for a local cancer charity.

Jonathan Wilkinson, previous Chair of Powys County Council, has been passionate about raising money for Lingen Davies Cancer Support – the primary cancer charity in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and Mid Wales – since his cancer diagnosis in 2013.

Jonathan and his wife Susie have both had a cancer diagnosis, with Susie receiving breast cancer treatment at the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital nine years ago.

He nominated Lingen Davies Cancer Support as his chosen charity to support during his time as Chair, raising £7,985 during that time to benefit local cancer patients.

Following his time as Chair which came to an end in May this year, Jonathan’s fundraising efforts have continued with a recent bucket collection during his livestock dispersal sale at Dyffryn Livestock, raising an additional £642 for the charity.

The couple have chosen to dedicate some of their funds to Lingen Davies’ new Sunflower Appeal – a £5million fundraising appeal to double the capacity of chemotherapy provision in the region and bring a dedicated cancer treatment centre to Telford.

As two of the first 100 people to donate £500 or more, Jonathan and Susie will both be recognised as founders of the new Lingen Davies Cancer Centre in Telford and will receive an exclusive ‘Founder’ badge to commemorate the donation.

Jonathan said, “Following my personal experiences with cancer I’m extremely passionate about doing what I can to support local cancer services and people in my community living with cancer. I was also inspired by the excellent treatment received by my wife and by many friends and neighbours at the Lingen Davies Centre in Shrewsbury.”

Angela Hill, Community Fundraiser for Lingen Davies, added: “It’s been a pleasure speaking with Jonathan about his positive experiences with Lingen Davies and we’re incredibly grateful that he chose to support us both through his role on the council and personally. The generosity he’s shown us has been truly incredible and we wish him and his wife the very best as they continue living beyond their cancer diagnoses.”

Find out more about Lingen Davies Cancer Support and its £5million Sunflower Appeal at www.lingendavies.co.uk/sunflower-appeal