Gavin & Stacey star backs Justin charity (From Penarth Times)

Gavin & Stacey star backs Justin charity

11:10am Saturday 21st November 2009

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GAVIN & STACEY star Steffan Rhodri has lent his support to Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week (November 16 to 22), as he remembers a friend from Dinas Powys who died from the disease.

Mr Rhodri, who plays Dave Coaches in the hit BBC One comedy, is backing Amser Justin Time, the charity set up by Welsh opera star Shan Cothi in memory of her husband Justin Smith who died of pancreatic cancer aged just 42.

Mr Rhodri, who landed the role of Reg Cattermole in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, says the charity remains a focal point of his life.

“I’m very grateful for such opportunities as Con Passionate, Gavin and Stacey and now Harry Potter, but my passion is my work with Amser Justin Time,” he said.

“Sadly I’m only too familiar with the tragic affect that this killer disease has had on my close friends and my family, and I urge everyone to support our campaign in order to help others just in time.”

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week and its ‘Change the Numbers’ campaign have been designed to increase knowledge and understanding about the disease.

Despite being the fifth largest cause of cancer deaths in the UK, few have heard of it.

Shan Cothi said: “The silent nature of the disease has meant that research into diagnosis, treatment and service provision and patient support has gone underfunded for many years.

“Only around 1 per cent of cancer funding goes towards pancreatic cancer.

“As a result, there has been very little improvement in the overall survival rate for the last 40 years with 5 year survival just a dismal 3 per cent.

“UK pancreatic cancer charities believe that the time has come for these numbers to change,” she added.

“They are now urging people to spread the word about the importance of further research into pancreatic cancer as part of the November awareness week.”

For more information about the charity, log on at: www.amserjustintime.org. To make a donation visit: www.justgiving.com/amser -

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