Conwy choir helps Llanddoged man through fight with disease

Jun 25 2009 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

John Puw with fellow members of Cantorion Colin Jones

WITH a song in their hearts members of a male voice choir are helping one of their members tackle a deadly disease.

And John Puw says his membership of internationally renowned Cantorion Colin Jones is aiding him in his fight against debilitating Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

John, 48, from Llanddoged, first learned he had the disorder which attacks the central nervous system in August 2007, and although his condition is progressively worsening he was singing with the choir until two months ago.

“The comradeship, help and support of the lads in the choir is so important to me being able to keep a positive attitude. They have supported me all the way through and continue to support me.

“They’re brilliant,” he said.

In addition to giving John help in coping with his illness, the choir have so far raised nearly £12,000 for research into MND.

They collected £5,500 as the result of a sponsored walk, and have released a CD of their favourite songs which has so far raised a further £6,000.

“We still have 120 copies left to sell, which potentially means at least another £1,000 and we will carry on fundraising,” said choir member Gareth Oliver.

John, who is still working as a Welsh/English translator for North Wales Police, despite now being confined to a wheelchair first noticed physical changes in 2005.

“There were little things at first, and then I started to fall without warning. My wife’s a doctor and we started to tick off symptoms and in mid-2007 they started to point towards MND.

“Even so, the diagnosis when it came was hard to deal with but I made up my mind to be positive for the sake of my family as well as for myself,” he explained.

John says he reached a turning point in his attitude to the disease when he fell in a quiet street in Chester and couldn’t get up.

“I think that was my lowest point, but I decided I had to get on and deal with this and that’s what I’m doing. It’s all about quality of life and the support of my family, the choir, and North Wales Police who have all been incredible in helping me to live as normally as possible has been fantastic,” he said.

And he also paid tribute to St David’s Hospice in Llandudno where he attends the day care centre on Wednesdays.

“The staff at the hospice have been fantastic. I really like coming here and it gives my family a break from looking after me,” he said.

Details of how to buy the choir’s CD are available from www.cantorioncolinjones.com