‘STAN’s LBD (little black dress) Size 28½’ is an exhibition by Rachael Blakeway of Rhayader at CARAD Museum & Art Gallery in Rhayader from Friday, November 24, to Saturday, December 15.

It is hoped to raise awareness of bowel cancer and to raise money for three cancer charities who helped and supported Rachael and her family throughout her treatment and recovery.

They include local cancer support charity the Bracken Trust in Llandrindod Wells, Maggie’s drop-in centre in Cheltenham and the Christie in Manchester, now one of the world’s foremost cancer research and treatment centres.

Five years ago Rachael was diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 40.

Her treatment commenced in 2012 in Cheltenham, where she had several weeks of radiotherapy together with chemo drugs taken orally.

During this time her bowel perforated and after an emergency operation “Stan the Stoma Size 28½” was born.

She named her stoma “Stan” to help put some distance between herself and the cancer. Rachael’s tumour was surgically removed at The Christie in late 2012 and after further operations Stan itself was finally reversed (again at The Christie) in 2015.

Five years after the tumour’s removal and after several positive results from subsequent scans and blood tests, Rachael wanted to do a fundraiser with a difference and to raise awareness of bowel cancer, the UK’s second biggest cancer killer. If diagnosed early however, 97% of cases can be treated successfully (source: Beating Bowel Cancer).

Talking to your GP about problems with your bowels could save your life, but many people find it difficult and embarrassing to openly discuss changes in toilet habits.

As her unused ostomy bags could not be returned, Rachael decided to use her recycling art skills and call upon the help of all her friends and family who helped during her illness.

The brief was to decorate an ostomy bag with whatever medium they liked, except it had to be in black and they could not cover the hole where Stan would sit!

She collectively called her designers the Stanettes! She then put all the bags together to make a black dress, “Stan’s Little Black Dress Size 28½.” 63 bags later and the dress is complete and ready for exhibition.

Alongside the dress there will be a “Pantastic Washing Line” made up of 21 pairs of ostomy pants, again decorated by the Stanettes, but this time they were not restricted to using black!

On the opening night of Friday, November 24 (starting at 6.30pm) and throughout the exhibition, Rachael will be selling her handmade recycled Christmas decorations.

There will also be a raffle on the opening night with a range of prizes kindly donated by other artists and local businesses, while well-known cancer fundraiser Ursula Martin (‘One Woman Walks Wales’) will be judging the best decorated bag and pair of pants.

All monies raised through the sale of decorations and raffle tickets and from donations will be split equally between the three charities to help support their invaluable services to those with cancer and their families.

For further information about the exhibition (including CARAD opening times and arrangements), please call 01597 810804 or contact CARAD direct on 01597 810561 or visit their website at www.carad.org.uk .