Dilys, 90, celebrates 25 years volunteering for Cancer Research Wales

A much-loved Cardiff woman, who is 90 years old, is celebrating 25 years of volunteering at her local Cancer Research Wales shop.

Cheerful Dilys Llewellyn is popular with the staff, her fellow volunteers and customers at the store in the Whitchurch area of the city.

A favour for a friend

She’s been a regular volunteer since she popped into her local shop in 2001 to do a favour for a friend, as she explains:

“I’ve been a Cancer Research Wales shop volunteer for 25 years. It started one day when I took my late husband, Ken, who had bad arthritis, out for a breath of fresh air. We went past the Cancer Research Wales shop and my friend, who was the manager there, was on the till,” said Dilys.

“She called me in and asked me to man the till while she went for lunch. We sat Ken in a chair and I got behind the till and that was how it started. I became a volunteer and Ken would sit in the chair while I volunteered – we used to joke he was the security,” she added.

A very friendly place

The bubbly nonagenarian, who has been a keen ballroom dancer since she was 13 years old, says she enjoys being at the Cancer Research Wales shop because it is a very friendly place.

“I love meeting people and I’ve always liked being with people and I’ve made a lot of friends at Cancer Research Wales. We all get on with each other and it’s very friendly. The shop is its own little community and it’s nice to be part of that and I enjoy it.

“The best thing about volunteering here is being on the till. When the tills were computerised years ago, I almost left because of that, but Pam, who was the manager here at the time, told me she’d teach me how to use it and she did, and that gives me a great sense of achievement,” explained Dilys.

Needs more volunteers

Dilys says that as well as making friends, volunteering with Cancer Research Wales is very rewarding, but the charity needs more volunteers and she recommends it to anyone.

“We lost a lot of volunteers during Covid, which is a real shame, and we need more volunteers. I’d recommend volunteering with Cancer Research Wales to anyone because it’s so rewarding. The staff are nice and so are the customers,” she added.

Not the same when she isn’t here

Amanda Jenkins, manager of the Cancer Research Wales shop at 78A Tŷ’n-y-Pwll Road in Whitchurch, said:

“Dilys is always smiling and her energy and enthusiasm are infectious – she almost literally lights up the room and everybody loves her: the staff, volunteers and customers who come to the shop to buy a bargain or to drop off their pre-loved donations. It’s just not the same when she isn’t here, and a lot of customers actually come to shop here on Fridays because Dilys is here.

“We are incredibly lucky that she gives up her time so generously to help us out, and I can’t thank her enough for all the time she’s given over the years to help Cancer Research Wales with our mission of uniting Wales against cancer through funding world-class research."