Tribute to cancer battle Mum of three

Feb 11 2010 by David Powell, North Wales Weekly News

TRIBUTES have been paid to a mum-of-three who has died from skin cancer aged 41.

Julie Jones championed netball for girls in the Conwy Valley and a special tournament will soon be held in her honour.

The Colwyn Bay mum had lost her dad Selwyn to cancer in 2000 then tragically developed a form of the disease herself.

Despite her condition, Julie, with brother Alun, set up a charity Running for Selwyn in her dad’s memory in January 2009 in aid of the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, Bodelwyddan.

The first event for the charity was the Llandudno to Colwyn Bay Twin Piers 10k race that month.

Her husband Trefor said: “Even when she was battling her illness she endeavoured to complete the race alongside 25 relatives and friends.”

But she finally lost her two-and-a-half year battle against her cancer at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on New Year’s Day.

Julie had attended Ysgol Bod Alaw in Colwyn Bay and Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph before becoming one of the first pupils to attend the newly opened Ysgol y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay.

Trefor said: “We were best friends and soul mates. I loved her so much.

“Although she’d a short life, she has left many fond memories. She may now be out of sight but she will never be out of mind.

“She led her life with true passion, a passion that can only be shown when someone is as honest, kind, caring and thoughtful as she was.”

He said his wife had dedicated her life to her children Wynn, 19, Sion, 13, and Tomos, 11. He added: “She enjoyed nothing more than being with her children, whether it was driving them to their various activities, helping them with their homework or just spending quality time with them. She was a wonderful mother.”

Julie had a real passion for netball and took it upon herself to develop netball in the Conwy Valley.

Trefor said: “She was the coach, the treasurer, the secretary, the umpire, and a player and had a real understanding of the needs of the junior players in Llanrwst.

“She worked tirelessly, coaching the kids, setting up teams, getting funding for kits and ensuring the children enjoyed themselves,” Trefor added.

Now her mother is organising a memorial netball tournament to be held in Llanrwst Leisure Centre in late February or early March. Proceeds will go to the North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre.

So far, the Running for Selwyn charity has raised more than £6,000 for the cancer centre.