Father's long and courageous battle comes to an end.

Byline: DAVID POWELL

TRIBUTES were last night paid to a charity fund-raiser and businessman who lost his battle against cancer.

Father-of-three Craig Vaughan Thomas was said to be charismatic and an inspiration to others.

Only months after doctors broke the devastating news his stomach cancer had returned, he had helped raise pounds 8, 000 to help other sufferers of the disease.

The 35-year-old from Trelawnyd, Flintshire, played for Rhyl Rugby Club.

Managing director of Thomas Care Group, a family business, Craig was responsible for 400 staff and 270 elderly clients in a string of care homes in Conwy and Denbighshire.

But gradually his condition deteriorated and he died at his home surrounded by his family last Tuesday.

Craig and his wife Michelle have three children Faye, 16, Harri, eight, and three-year-old Michael.

He also leaves parents Eddie and Cynthia, plus brother Mark, sister Louise, and mother-in-law Joan.

Michelle said: ``He was a devoted, much-loved husband and a wonderful father.

``He was also great fun and a charismatic character. He had a great smile and a mischievous sense of humour.

``He had a zest for life his courage and dignity impressed and inspired everyone. ''

She added: ``Craig was diagnosed in June 2001 but after an operation and chemotherapy went into remission.

``We had a very happy two years together as a family but unfortunately in November 2003 he was rediagnosed.

``He had fought a long and courageous battle. ''

An award marking a lifetime achievement in care will be made in his memory later this year.

A charity fund-raising evening, Craig's Big Night Out, at the Kinmel Manor Hotel, Abergele, in May 2003 raised pounds 8, 000. Craig impersonated Tom Jones to sing It's Not Unusual.

Proceeds paid for a ``cold cap'' machine to prevent hair loss for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the oncology unit in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.

Born in St Asaph, Craig attended Ysgol Dewi Sant and Rhyl High School both in Rhyl. Later he worked with business partner Paul Burnett for PJ Furnishings in Prestatyn but switched to his family business when he was 21. He started off at Bryn Cwybr Nursing Home in Rhuddlan and the Thomas family built up the business to include Sandy Lodge Nursing Home, Canterbury House Nursing Home and Preswylfa Nursing Home, all in Rhyl.

The family also runs Plas Gwynfa Nursing Home, Towyn, plus Cartref y Borth Nursing Home and Cartrefle Residential Home in Llanrwst.

Craig was also chairman of Denbighshire Homes Association, a board member of North Wales Care Association and of Care Forum Wales.

Mario Kreft, North Wales Care Association chairman, said: ``Craig was one of those very special people who spent so much of his time raising care home standards for the general good. ''

Players wore black arm bands and observed a minute's silence before the Afon Lido FC v Rhyl FC match on Saturday.

At this weekend's Rhyl FC home game flags will be at half-mast.

A funeral service will be held at St Thomas Church in Rhyl on Thursday, at noon followed by a private family committal at Bron-y-Nant Crematorium in Colwyn Bay.

Mourners are asked to send any donations to the oncology unit in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan or Cancer Research UK.

CAPTION(S):

Craig Vaughan Thomas, a man with a zest for life, died after a long fight against stomach cancer