A CHESTER man will be joining Rhod Gilbert once again on a challenging charity trek to raise further funds for a cancer centre which saved the Welsh comedian's life.

Viewers were left in tears this week as the brutally honest and inspiring documentary Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck aired this week on Channel 4 as part of Stand Up to Cancer.

The intimate story detailed Rhod Gilbert's treatment against a rare form of head and neck cancer, which involved rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy as part of Rhod's treatment at Velindre Cancer Centre.

In a darkly ironic twist not lost on the comedian, Rhod has been patron of the cancer hospital for the past 10 years and was on a fundraising trek for them in Cuba when he found a lump in his neck.

Now Rhod will be hosting the next trek, in Morocco next year, and will be joined once more by Cestrian Andrew May.

'A challenging test'

For Andrew, the trek has its own significance, as it is 10 years since he sadly lost his father to cancer.

Andrew completed the Mersey tunnel 10k in 2014 for Macmillan Cancer Support, then joined Rhod in 2019 on a week-long, 70-mile trek through the Himalayas in Nepal, an event which raised some £250,000 for Velindre.

Now Andrew will be reunited with Rhod for the Morocco challenge, which will see the fundraising team trek to the summit of Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, at a height of 4,167 metres (13,671ft).

Andrew said of the trek: "[It] will be a challenging test for all participants, but with all donations going to help those with cancer, it will be worth the pain. Any donations would be greatly appreciated."

People can donate at https://tinyurl.com/Morocco2024

Rhod Gilbert, who has raised over £2 million for Velindre Cancer Centre over the years by leading treks, hosting quiz nights and concerts, will be performing at Chester's Storyhouse on January 26.

People can watch Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck on the Channel 4 player at https://www.channel4.com/programmes/rhod-gilbert-a-pain-in-the-neck-for-su2c