Doncaster family unite to set up a new charity to raise money for bowel cancer awareness

Rebecca, Kirsten and Alison Leslie from Sprotbrough started the charity Braces 4 Bowels in November, last year.

Their goal is to raise awareness about bowel cancer by selling specially designed trouser braces.

Rebecca, aged 24, said: “Back in 2016 we found ourselves facing news that we never thought we would.

“Our dad, Andy, had been suffering from stomach pains for a few weeks which became progressively worse and so unbearable that he went into hospital.

“Within hours of being there and a few tests he was told that he had bowel cancer and was taken into surgery.”

Sadly the cancer was caught at a late stage and meant Andy’s tumour was so large that it could not be removed completely.

Andy, who ran his own accountancy business Broderick and Leslie, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2016 and started chemotherapy in 2017 to prolong his life.

Rebecca said: “Throughout the chemotherapy my dad was always so proud despite everything he was going through.

“He found wearing belts uncomfortable and decided to try wearing trouser braces.

“We thought he looked brilliant in them and he bought different colours and patterns to match his shirts.”

Andy passed away in 2017 but as a way to honour his memory and to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK, the family have designed their own braces.

Their design includes the star of hope which is a symbol that Bowel Cancer UK uses for their charity.

“Bowel cancer is one of the largest cancer killers but it’s not spoken about often enough,” Rebecca added.

“They say that it affects the elderly but my dad was 55 when he passed.

“We went down to parliament and asked for the screening age to be lowered to 50 and it passed so we’re just waiting for it to be implemented now.”

To buy a pair of trouser braces click here.

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