A Welsh Social Network - Rhwydwaith Cymdeithasol Cymreig

Shan Cothi

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To promote a charity in honour of Shan's husband - Justin - who died of pancreatic cancer.

Website: http://americymru.ning.com/shancothi
Members: 43
Latest Activity: 16 hours ago

Latest Press Release:- Countdown to ‘Change the Numbers’ Awareness Week for Pancreatic Cancer

Find more videos like this on Americymru

I’d like to introduce you to my good friend Shan Cothi.

Shan is Wales’ foremost soprano with a voice like velvet, and her range is enormous varying from musical theatre to opera. She is also an excellent actress, playing Davina Roberts in the much acclaimed S4C series ‘Con Passionate’. We have just finished filming the third series.

Shan is a blacksmith’s daughter from Farmers near Lampeter, Cardiganshire, the heart of rural Wales.

After winning the prestigious Blue Riband vocal prize at the Abergele National Eisteddfod in 1995 Shan decided to turn professional. A glittering career in London’s glamorous West End theatres beckoned. I’ll let you catch up with her massive CV on her website; I’ll give you the address at the end.

In 2006 her long term partner Justin Smith (son of Welsh actor Ray Smith) an extremely talented film director/editor, and musician/composer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He put up a brave and hard fight, and whilst he was in New York having treatment he jumped out of the horse and carriage ride they were having in Central Park, got down on one knee and proposed to Shan.

Soon after they returned to Wales Justin was admitted to Holme Tower Hospice where they got married in front of close family and friends. He passed away soon afterwards aged 42.

Being the feisty character that she is, Shan is determined that good must come from Justin’s death. She and close friends have set up a registered charity, in his name, to raise awareness and money for research into this cruel disease. Shan, sadly Justin's wife for only one month, leads this charity to help save others from their suffering - just in time.

The money raised will provide care and support for pancreatic cancer patients and their families in Wales, as well as funding the medical profession for investigation and research into pancreatic cancer.

The charity will be officially launched on August Bank Holiday Monday, the day after she has sung with Bryn Terfel at his Faenol Festival. Shan and a group of friends will ride back to South Wales on their horses, trecking for three weeks. It’s not intended that it should be a hard ride. Fund raising events have been arranged along the way. At the Pavilion Pontrhydfendigaid, Rebecca Evans and Rhys Meirion will join for a magnificent concert and a gig as a finale at The Point in Cardiff on September 18th.

A good friend of Justin – Emyr Glasnant Young is also walking the whole route along the Cambrian Way!

To coincide with this, Shan and Bryn Terfel have recorded a CD of one of Justin’s songs ‘I Believe’. I have heard it and it is absolutely superb. Two of Wales’ best talents on the same disc! Rumour has it that a second pressing has been ordered even before the release of the first such is the demand!

I do hope you can find it within yourselves to support this worthwhile cause, and to reward the huge voluntary efforts of Shan and her friends by either buying and downloading ‘I Believe’ or by giving a donation. To download your copy, or to follow the progress of Shan and her friends on their journey through Wales, visit the charity’s website: http://www.amserjustintime.org

To find out more about Shan and to see Justin’s superb video that accompanies her singing Caro Mio Ben visit her website: http://www.shancothi.com

Thank you.

Huw Davies

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Comment by Ken Lonewolf on November 13, 2009 at 9:14pm: I know rhe sadness of losing a loved one to pancreatic cancer. My only brother died of pancreatic cancer. He was fifty-nine years of age at death. He had just retired from teaching high school. I miss him very much. To Shan: remember the good times that you had with your husband. Cherish the memories.

Ken Lonewolf

Comment by Dian Sirkin on November 13, 2009 at 3:43pm: My heart goes out to Shan Cothi. My husband is a pancreatic cancer survivor. He was one of the very lucky few who was diagnosed in time, had the surgery and is doing very well. It will be 6 years next month!
Hope you raise lots of money for this very worthwhile cause.
Dian

Comment by Ceri Shaw on November 13, 2009 at 2:29pm: Countdown to ‘Change the Numbers’ Awareness Week for Pancreatic Cancer

PRESS RELEASE: 13/11/09

Comment by Huw Davies on August 4, 2008 at 12:48pm: A message from STEPHEN MURRAY to all members of Shan Cothi on Americymru!

Still shocked , I new Justin very well ,, im not realy sure what elese to say .
a hilariously funny , endlesy clummsey fella ,,and not such a good soccer player but he tried bloody hard :-) (the hairiest soccer team in the world Atractive academicals !! ).
the world is a poorer place now .
his memory though is held with a huge smile . Steve Murray ( former City Kidz bass player )

Comment by IRFT Celtic Radio on July 21, 2008 at 5:23pm: If we can do anything at the station to assist, please, do not hesitate to let us know!
Seán Owens

Comment by Tam Ryan on July 21, 2008 at 11:14am: Thank you so much Huw for bringing this cause to light. Pancreatic cancer is, indeed, a scourge to the health issues faced by millions of people. Shan Cothi is amazing for her efforts to bring this awful disease to a halt. I was very saddened to hear of the loss of Shan's husband, Justin. My heartfelt prayers and support go out to Shan, her family and friends in this pursuit to rid pancreatic cancer from the face of the earth.
Tam

Huw, your video clip of Shan and Justin shows how special these two people are. Their personal story has touched my heart.

Comment by Lidia Ziolkowski on July 21, 2008 at 9:48am: Oh yes--I just read this story and I was saddened! My heart goes out to Shan and Justin's family!
Pancreatic cancer is another leading killer here in the USA--this cancer is not to be tolerated--I have to keep a close watch on myself being a diabetic and I'm going to do some intense reading! Being a uterine cancer survivor myself I urge all my Americymru friends to get check ups when they can--you never know when it will save your life!
Anyway my prayers go out to Shan and the family and i will try and support the cause! You can count on me for that!
Lidiaxoxoxoxoxo
Huw--diolch for getting us all aware of this!

Comment by Ceri Shaw on July 21, 2008 at 6:05am: Leave messages of support here. To donate visit the website HERE.

Comment by Mike Brooks of Here Be Dragons on July 21, 2008 at 5:49am: I was in school with Justin.

Our paths crossed form time to time and he was always very friendly and always seemed happy to see me as I was him.

I read about his death in the Western Mail and was shocked, I still find it hard to believe. My band used to sing a song Justin's dad wrote called the Ha'panny Strike. I told Justin and he was pleased, he said his dad used to sing it to him as a child.

I wish you all the best with the charity in his honour,

Mike
Here Be Dragons

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LEFT COAST EISTEDDFOD 2010 / EISTEDDFOD YR ARFORDIR CHWITH 2009

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