Community

Rowan taking on ultimate climbing challenge

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Dream Team: Rowan and friends fundraise in Birmingham

18-YEAR-OLD Rowan Staden- Coats from Pembrokeshire is to undergo the challenge of a lifetime in 2016 by climbing the highest peak in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation. Currently a first year student at the University of Birmingham, in September 2016 Rowan will be travelling to Tanzania with a group of 27 students from the University, to undertake a 6-day trek to the summit to raise money for this worthy cause. Having lived in the village of Treffgarne for her whole life, Rowan has always been and will continue to be an active part of the local community.

She is a member of Keyston YFC, with whom she has helped to raise money for local charities including PATCH and Paul Sartori. She has used her musical talents to perform in charity concerts, both as a vocal soloist and part of small ensembles and larger choirs raising money for various local and national charities. She has been well-prepared for her challenge as during her school years, she completed the bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh awards which as well as including tough physical activity, also meant that she spent a considerable number of hours volunteering in her local primary school, working with the children there.

In summer 2013, Rowan spent two weeks volunteering in rural Malawi with the Fisherman’s Rest Charity, helping to build schools and teaching English. Meningitis Research Foundation is an excellent charity to which Rowan has a strong personal link. The charity is close to her heart, as when she was a toddler, she lost a friend to the disease overnight. More recently, a very c l o s e friend is thought to have contracted viral meningitis, which meant that she could not attend school for two years, meaning she missed out on completing her A-Levels. For such a bright, hardworking and enthusiastic pupil, this was very upsetting.

Thankfully, she has now recovered from the episode and is attempting to resume her studies. However, this is not the case for a lot of people who are permanently affected by the disease. The charity carries out research projects all over the world and in the UK into both Meningitis (bacterial, viral and fungal) and Septicaemia. Their current research projects include experimentation with new vaccines, which in future years will help to combat the disease, but they also work very closely with people who have already been affected, and raising awareness in order to prevent the spread.

Recently, Meningitis Research Foundation were responsible for attaining a free vaccination for the ACWY strain of the disease for all first year university students – only since starting university did Rowan realise just how important this is, as students are the second highest risk demographic category, following babies, to contract the disease. Symptoms can be very similar to that of hangovers, meaning lots of students may dismiss the symptoms, which could prove fatal. Many people are very unaware of many of the symptoms and effects of the disease, and the charity does great work to try and raise a w a r e n e s s . It provides lots of s u p p o r t f o r families and victims already affected, and has rehabilitation programmes in order to help them to re-establish normality to their lives.

The fundraising target is £2990, which the charity will be spending on a variety of projects, including the genome research library and rehabilitation programmes. The trek up Kilimanjaro itself will take place over the course of 6 days, in early September 2016 and the group should reach the summit on day 4, at a height of 5,895m (19,336 ft.) they will be at the highest point in Africa. This will be a hugely challenging experience, and will take lots of commitment to physical training, as it will be Rowan’s first experience of high altitude, as well as overcoming mental and emotional obstacles and of course the fundraising challenge. Throughout the course of the year the intrepid teenager will be organising multiple fundraising events, both in Pembrokeshire and in Birmingham, but will also be taking part in other activities such as the Birmingham 10k run and the Tenby Boxing Day Swim in order to reach the personal target of £2990. If you would like to donate to Rowan’s challenge and help the fight against meningitis then you can do so by going to the fundraising page: https://carnivalrag.everydayhero. c o m / u k / r o w a n – c l i m b s – kilimanjaro-2016 For more information on events or to contact Rowan you can get in touch via her email address:rowanstadencoats@gmail. com

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Community

Restoration of a pond hopes to support biodiversity in Pembrokeshire

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AN OLD millpond at the heart of the Wallis and Ambleston community, and a site of Special Scientific Interest, has now been improved to benefit water quality and increase biodiversity in an area of South Wales, thanks to funding from Nestlé Waters UK.

Wallis Pond was created in 1836 as part of the tributary of the Wester Cleddau River to supply water to a local mill. Back in 1978, it was restored and later re-opened by HRH King Charles III, the then Prince of Wales.

Over the years, the pond had become completely silted up, restricting the waters passage and the pond’s ability to retain water, resulting in a reduced diversity of habitat in and around the millpond.

Pembrokeshire County Council, Heavyside Landscapes and Nestlé Waters UK have come together to restore the millpond with regulatory guidance from Natural Resources Wales and support from the Ambleston Community Council.

The project saw the pond re-dug and de-silted, and the old sluice gate replaced to re-establish the millpond. With the pond now able to hold more water, it is hoped to help build resilience to the increased frequency and intensity of storm events, alleviating the risk of flooding in the local area.

Retention of flows in the pond for a longer time should help reduce silt build-up and prevent nutrients such as phosphates and nitrates from travelling downstream in the Cleddau catchment, helping to protect water quality, improve aquatic habitats, and encourage eels, otters, damselflies, and other wildlife species.

Restoration of Wallis Pond is one of the projects that Nestlé Waters is working on as part of its efforts to help regenerate local water cycles and create a positive water impact everywhere the company operates.

Matthew Faulkner, Factory Manager at the Nestlé Waters site in Princes Gate, said: “We are proud to be a part of the Wallis Pond restoration work, aimed at delivering long-lasting benefits in Pembrokeshire, where we bottle at source Princes Gate and Nestlé Pure Life waters. This beautiful landscape is not only our home, but also home to some incredible flora and fauna which are vital for keeping the area rich and thriving in biodiversity.

“We’re working hard to protect this land and the water beneath our feet. Water is a shared resource and a shared responsibility, and caring for it takes the whole community. That’s why we’re grateful to be working with partners on this project that will hopefully have a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community.”

Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services at the Pembrokeshire County Council, said: “We welcome this funding to enhance the biodiversity in Wallis Pond which can be enjoyed by the residents of Ambleston, the wider communities in Pembrokeshire and the visitors to our fantastic county.

“This is an excellent example of partnership working that has significant benefits for the environment and the wellbeing of generations to come.”

Eirian Forrest, Clerk at the Ambleston Community Council, said: “We are grateful to Nestlé Waters UK for the funding and wish to thank everyone who has been involved in this project, especially the Pembrokeshire County Council team, for pushing the project forwards.

“The Community Council are delighted that the work has finally been done and look forward to the positive impact it will have on biodiversity. We have already received many positive comments from members of the community. The improved pond encourages locals to take a walk around the area, as well as sit down to watch and enjoy the wildlife.”