A TEENAGER who battled cancer as a child has received his Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award.
Christopher Jones, 19, of Rossett, was presented with his award by Prince Phillip at St James’s Palace.
The Kellogg’s apprentice was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma at the age of four. During treatment at Alder Hey hospital to remove the tumour, doctors discovered that he also had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and Christopher underwent three years and two months of daily chemotherapy.
Mum Victoria said: “We are all so very proud of him. He has accomplished so much from being so poorly. There was a point when he nearly didn’t make it. He was so ill he struggled to walk so for him to achieve his gold award is a huge achievement.”
Christopher trained for his Duke of Edinburgh’s bronze, silver, and finally gold, at the DofE Open Award Centre in Gresford and he has been nominated by the area organiser to carry the Olympic torch next year.
For the charity section of the award Christopher set up a group called CAPS ON 4 CANCER, which encourages schools, businesses and organisations to wear caps to raise funds. He has raised almost £6,000 for good causes and a committee has since been formed, which is working towards obtaining charity status.
Christopher, who attended Darland High School, has been working as an electrical engineering apprentice at Kellogg’s in Wrexham for three years. He has already donated funds to CLIC Sargent, Alder Hey hospital and Ronald McDonald House at the hospital and earlier this month organised a sponsored walk to raise even more cash for his CAPS on 4 CANCER fund.
To find out more visit www.capson4cancer.co.uk.
