How a farming community rallied for young cancer survivor

The farming community in West Wales has pulled together in support of the Davies family, from Carmarthenshire.

They have faced an incredibly difficult year after 18-year-old son Isaac was diagnosed with a brain tumour in November 2024.

Neighbours, friends, farming colleagues, and local organisations stepped up to help keep the family dairy farm running while Isaac underwent surgery, proton beam therapy and chemotherapy in Cardiff and London.

See also: Welsh dairy family raise £75,000 for cancer charities

With Isaac’s parents, Simon and Sian Davies, often both in the hospital, and younger brother Elliott balancing A-levels with daily milking duties, community members offered their time, skills and support to keep things going.

Sian says: “We have been extremely lucky with family and friends helping take and fetch us to hospital, helping on the farm, and helping with our younger son Elliott.

“On farm, we have a number of part-time staff who agreed to do extra shifts. We have two locals who came in to help as and when they could.

“People have just fitted around us when we needed extra help. We live in such a brilliant community.”

Isaac, a passionate young farmer, Holstein breeder and rugby player, was on a gap year from Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, when he received his diagnosis.

Surgery was carried out on 13 November 2024 at the Heath Hospital, Cardiff, followed by six weeks of proton beam therapy at University College London Hospitals, and four months of chemotherapy.

Farming must continue

During hospital visits, the realities of farm life often followed the family, including phone calls from the milking parlour.

“When Simon [Isaac’s dad] visited us in London, the staff at the hospital used to find it amusing to hear him constantly on the phone sorting the farm,” says Sian.

“One nurse in London said to me: ‘A heifer… it is a female cow, isn’t it?’

“The staff on the ward had been having a meeting one day and all they could hear was Simon saying: ‘Move the heifer from the top pen to the middle pen,’ or ‘Give silage to the cow in the calving pen,’ or ‘Move the calf to the calf shed.’

“We had a bit of a laugh explaining all things farming!”

Showing cattle 

The family farms pedigree Holstein cows on the Carmarthenshire-Pembrokeshire border, under the Castellhyfryd Prefix, and supplies milk to Pembrokeshire Creamery and Blas y Tir.

The Davies are well known on the showing circuit, regularly competing at events such as the Royal Welsh Show.

Despite everything, brother Elliott continued showing this year and their stock qualified for the All Britain All Breeds Calf Show.

At the Pembrokeshire Show, the family’s heifer won Champion Interbreed, and Elliott was named Champion Handler.

“He’s also had a tough year with Isaac and me in hospital,” says Sian.

“So, we’ve tried to find some sort of normality.

“After nearly nine months of treatment, it’s been great attending the shows and we’ve had a chance to meet up with friends who have been supportive throughout Isaac’s illness.”

Rugby and Young Farmers

The family has a long-standing connection with Crymych Rugby Club, where Simon has coached and Sian has managed teams.

Isaac played from the age of five, captained the youth team, and in 2023 was awarded both Player of the Year and Players’ Player –  a role he held until surgery forced him to step down.

Isaac has remained close with fellow young farmers.

“Isaac and Elliott’s friends through the Holstein Young Breeders, Young Farmers’ Club and Crymych Rugby Club have helped both the boys through this difficult time,” says Sian.

“It’s at times like these you realise just how important these organisations are to young people living in rural Wales.”

Isaac is making steady progress with physiotherapy and rehabilitation, and the family continue to focus on his recovery. 

Fundraising for ‘In it with Isaac’ 

© Evie Tomlinson

In August, the community raised more than £75,000 for the ‘In It With Isaac’ campaign.

The day included a rugby match refereed by farmer and ex-international referee Nigel Owens, a “promise” auction, and a bicycle ride.

Set up by the Davies family, the initiative will support cancer charities that helped Isaac through treatment.

“Our friends in the farming and rural community have been very supportive throughout Isaac’s illness,” says Sian.

“Holstein South Wales are planning a fundraising event in March 2026.

“Two members of Clunderwen YFC took part in the Carten (a 100-mile cycle ride from Cardiff to Tenby), raising £5,500, and the local chapel where the boys went to Sunday School held a coffee morning and raised £4,600.”