Support Phil Owen Through Bowel Cancer Recovery

Phil has been unable to work since treatment started so we're raising £55,000 to help cover essential household and living costs, travel and medical bills while he gets through treatment and can focus entirely on his recovery.

For more than 40 years, Phil Owen has shown up for other people: as a science teacher, and as the founder of Ocean Therapy, a surf programme that has helped Armed Forces veterans, young people, and others rebuild confidence in the water.

Now, partway through bowel cancer treatment and major surgery, Phil is facing over a year away from work.

Phil has always shown patience, kindness, and belief in others. From 1999 to 2023, he worked as a secondary school science teacher at Penyrheol Comprehensive School, Swansea, Wales, before moving into the Home Tuition Service, where he felt he could make a real difference for young people who needed extra support.

A Life of Giving Back

For Phil, the sea has never been just a place to surf. In 2019, he founded Surf Therapy (later renamed Ocean Therapy), to help people facing mental health and life challenges use the ocean to find calm, courage, and confidence. What began as one-to-one support quickly grew into life-changing group programmes for Armed Forces veterans, young people in the Youth Justice system, and others who needed a lifeline.

In the water, supported by Phil's patience, people found space to breathe, try, fall, get back up, and recognise a strength they may not have realised was still there.

Now, Phil needs that same support himself.

Phil’s Cancer Diagnosis & Journey

On 30 October 2025, after six months of GP visits and delayed investigations, Phil received a life-changing bowel cancer diagnosis. Since then, he has been through intensive chemotherapy, serious complications, chemoradiotherapy, and major surgery—with more still planned.

Between November 2025 and February 2026, Phil received six cycles of FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. Determined to keep supporting his students and family, Phil tried to keep working through his first round of treatment. However, he was suddenly hospitalised with a suspected sepsis admission, and he has been unable to work since 5 December 2025.

Emergency stoma surgery, severe pain, and a 12-day hospital stay caused his chemotherapy treatment to be significantly delayed. Following the chemotherapy, he then completed five weeks of daily chemoradiotherapy. While scans showed the tumour had shrunk, it was not as much as hoped, making his subsequent surgeries more complex.

Phil has since undergone major surgery, including the reversal of his colostomy and the formation of an ileostomy. After two weeks in hospital, he is finally recovering at home, but he faces a further 6 weeks of chemotherapy and more surgery later this year.

The Hidden Costs of Cancer: Why GoFundMe is Needed

As a supply teacher, Phil receives zero pay and no sick pay when he cannot work. Having had no income since December 2025, he and his wife have quietly carried immense financial and emotional pressure while trying to stretch what they have.

Cancer brings lost income, mortgage payments, household bills, insurance, food, travel to appointments, care needs and extra recovery costs. Benefits, savings and family support have not been enough to remove the pressure built up over the past eight months.

We hope Phil may return to work in around six months, but this fundraiser is also about easing the financial pressure already built up, so he can rest, recover and prepare for further surgery without constant worry.

How Your Donations Will Help Phil

The £55,000 target will be directly used to support Phil's household through this critical recovery phase:

• Replace lost income to keep the household running while Phil is physically unable to work.

• Cover essential bills including mortgage repayments, household utility bills, and council tax.

• Fund travel and recovery costs for ongoing hospital appointments.

• Support care, recovery and stability before further surgery.

The need is urgent. Phil is recovering from major surgery, faces further surgery later this year, and is likely to remain away from work for several more months.

Phil has spent so much of his life showing up for others. Now, during immense physical, emotional and financial strain, we want to stand beside him as he has stood beside so many others.

Phil is still thinking of others

Even while facing cancer, Phil continues to support Ocean Therapy when he is well enough and has made sure others are in place to keep programmes running for the people who rely on them. That is Phil all over: still thinking of others.

How You Can Help

• Donate: Any amount, large or small, directly eases the pressure on Phil and his wife.

• Share: Please share this link on your social media, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, or local community groups. Sharing is just as powerful as donating.

• Watch: Take a moment to watch the video above to see the incredible community impact Phil has made.

Phil has spent his life giving to others. This is our chance to give something back.

Who is organising this fundraiser

This campaign is led by Laurence Winmill, a close friend of Phil's who has personally benefited from Phil's support and knows first-hand the impact Phil has had on people's lives. Fiona, Phil's wife, will support Laurence to reply to messages.

Phil is the beneficiary. 100 % of all funds raised will go directly to him to support household and essential living costs. Laurence and Fiona will post updates on Phil's treatment, recovery and how funds are being used.

Thank you so much for your kindness, your generosity, and for showing up for Phil the way he has always shown up for others.