A WHITCHURCH man who lost his father to cancer is organising an event to raise money for a charity which funds research into the killer condition.

Down at the Mill will be held on May 31, at 7pm, at Whitchurch Silk Mill, to generate funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

Jon Wilks, who is part of the organising committee for the event, said: “My father John died quite suddenly of the disease about a year ago, and I’ve been looking for ways to raise some money to help research a cure.

“Five-year survival rates for those diagnosed with it are as low as four per cent and, shockingly, it has remained that way for around 40 years. I felt I had to do whatever I could to lend a hand.”

The 37-year-old father-of-two added: “The shock we felt when he was diagnosed with metastasized pancreatic cancer was as numbing to us as it was painful to him.

“He was quickly whisked into hospital to have a kidney removed, along with parts of his stomach, and several other organs. Sadly, there was little they could do.”

Dr Wilks died of the disease on May 1, 2013, aged 66.

His son added: “I began to find out more and more about how poorly funded research is around the illness, and some of the appalling stats that sufferers have to face.”

He decided to do what he could do raise funds, and organised the music event, in which various bands and singers will play, including The Grizzly Folk, of which Jon is a member.

Tickets for the event cost £7.50 and can be bought from the Silk Mill shop, in Winchester Street, with all proceeds going to Pancreatic Cancer UK.

For more information about the fundraiser, go to facebook.com/Down At TheMill