A POWYS football club manager has appealed for donations for a cancer charity.

Mark Harding, better known as Tiny, is the manager of Talgarth Town Football Club which has competed in the Gwent Central League for the past two years.

Last month Tiny was given the devastating news that he had prostate cancer and shortly after told it had spread to his lymph nodes and bones.

Tiny is using his diagnosis to raise awareness of prostate cancer, a cancer that if caught early enough has a high survival rate.

In raising awareness, Tiny is hoping that it will encourage others to get tested.

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So far friends and family have also raised more than £350 via a Just Giving Facebook page and the Talgarth boss is calling for more donations to support Prostate Cancer Research.

To raise awareness, Tiny is having a Prostate Cancer UK tattoo done on December 18th. This tattoo is being done at no cost by John Sheppard, aka Johnny Tattoo and Sarah Sheppard of Twinkles and Ink in Crickhowell.

Johnny lost his father to prostate cancer 34 years ago and is a cause very close to his home and heart.

Tiny is hoping to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK, so all and any donations will be gratefully received.

Tiny said: “My message to everyone is gents, please get yourself checked. A simple blood test or a chat to your doctor, if you’re not feeling right, can prevent you from having a story like mine. Do it for yourself, do it for your friends, and do it for your family.”

Tiny also praised the medical support he has so far received.
He said: “Biopsy day began with a blood pressure test followed by a debrief with a team of four medical professionals.

“What a fantastic team from reception to the nurse I saw. They went through lots of questions regarding my health, the nurse gave uncensored and honest answers to all the questions I asked, very caring and compassionate and professional. Straight to the point, which was really refreshing.

“More bloods were taken for the urology team to look at, followed by an embarrassing examination but this lasted two minutes, which was nothing compared to the grand scheme of things.”