A St Albans mother who has dedicated herself to raising awareness of cancers since the death of her teenage son is urging people to support a Christmas campaign aimed at raising money for a group of charities.

Wendy Gough’s son Matthew, a student at Verulam School, died of testicular cancer in 1998 when he was only 19.

Since his death, she has set up the Wendy Gough Cancer Awareness Foundation (WGCAF) which has joined the Testicular Cancer Awareness Group to raise awareness of the illness.

Wendy has given numerous talks in local schools and clubs about cancer awareness and she is calling on people to support the Christmas Bauballs campaign which was launched in 2012 and is taking place again this year.

Creative agency Albion has produced a range of four handmade testicle-shaped tree decorations for £6 each or a make-your-own pack for £4, available online from www.bauballs.co.uk

Wendy said: “We have just joined a group of other charities in order to spread the work and we have been lucky enough for a company to approach and sell for us these lovely Christmas Bauballs.”