A YOUNG mum from Gwynedd who bravely battled a rare cancer has thanked the hospital that treated her by raising thousands of pounds in a sponsored walk.

Family and friends joined Jemma Jones in the four-mile walk in aid of the specialist Christie Hospital in Manchester, the largest single site cancer centre in Europe.

After the cancerous sarcoma was diagnosed early last year, mother-of-two Jemma underwent months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an operation to remove the tumour.

Among those who took part in the walk on the Lon Las Peris cycle path alongside Llyn Padarn was her mum Karen who works as a catering assistant at Pendine Park’s Bryn Seiont Newydd care  home in Caernarfon.

Many of Karen’s colleagues have chipped in, including her boss, catering manager Richard Thompson, who donated the £50 he was given for his 44th birthday – and a lot more besides.

In addition to the money raised, Jemma wanted to raise awareness of the disease and for anyone with unusual symptoms to contact their doctor as soon as possible.

Anyone who would like to support Jemma's fundraising can do so online at www.justgiving.com/page/taith-gerdded-jemma.

The 35-year-old, who lives with husband Mike near Caernarfon, said she noticed a lump on her arm and initially thought nothing of but she went to the doctor after it started growing.

She said: "I was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer on the first of February last year. I was instantly and efficiently transferred to the care of The Christie Hospital in Manchester.”

Jemma, who is mum to seven-year-old Jac and three-year-old Leia, spent several months at the Christie Hospital being treated and "rang the bell" in the company of her children in a short but emotional ceremony last August.

She added: "It was the most upsetting, stressful, and hardest year I have faced but I got through it all thanks to the amazing staff at the Christie Hospital.

"They truly are an amazing group of professionals who go above and beyond to help. They make you feel like you’re not just a number and genuinely care. Nothing is ever too much of an ask. The staff were the little family I needed being so far away from my own.

"Thankfully I am on the other side and building myself up again!"

Jemma, who works for website developer Delwedd in Caernarfon, said: "I hoped to raise some money to give a little thank you back. I set a target of £500 and was very happy to find that target being passed quite quickly and then the total climbed beyond £2,000.

"I will be forever grateful to the staff at The Christie Hospital and its fantastic staff," she said.

Bryn Seiont Newydd's manager Sandra Evans added: "We were really worried when Karen told us Jemma had been diagnosed with cancer and know how difficult the treatment process can be.

"It was a great relief when Karen said Jemma had been given the all-clear after months of treatment and is on the road to a full recovery.

“We are very happy to support her in her fund-raising, not least Richard who thinks the world of Karen.

“Not only is he a brilliant catering manager, he is also a fantastic human being.”