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Welsh soprano Shân Cothi began a horseback marathon from Talacre to Bridgend last Monday, to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, after her husband, 42-year-old TV editor Justin Smith, lost his battle to the disease in September last year.

Mr Smith, former bassist with 1990s glam metal band Tigertailz, died at a cancer hospice in Penarth, South Wales, just weeks after his bedside marriage to Shân.

The pair met 10 years ago when she was recording the Shân Cothi Show for S4C and he was editing. Mr Smith proposed on their last trip away together to New York – a failed bid to find treatment for his illness.

After her husband's death, Shân, who lives in Cardiff, threw herself into raising awareness of pancreatic cancer, which is extremely difficult to detect and is often not discovered until it is too late to treat.

She set up a charity to help fight her cause, Amser Justin Time, which aims to provide support to cancer sufferers and their families.

Shân, who plays the leading role in S4C's drama series Con Passionate, said: "Justin would have thought I was crazy, but he would have been really proud of what we are doing.

"Horse riding has been a fantastic way of coping for me, because I was exhausted after everything that I went through when I lost Justin."

The group made a stop at Gweryd Lakes livery yard, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, last Wednesday, to give the horses a chance to rest, and met charity worker Esmor Davies, who is collecting sponsors for the ride.

Esmor said: "I am really pleased to be able to help Shân with what she is doing. She is a really lovely, warm, friendly lady and I am doing everything I can to help her raise as much money as possible."

Shân has also produced a single with her friend and fellow singer Bryn Terfel, featuring bass played by Justin Smith, which will be released on September 22.

Anyone wishing to take part in the ride, or make a donation to Amser Justin Time, can contact Shân on 07966 704548, or Esmor on 07877 292394.


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