Community

24-hour run and walk for SWAT

Published

12 years ago

January 16, 2014

A MAN from Haverfordwest will be doing a 24-hour run and walk to help raise awareness for the Save Withybush Action Team. Mark Llewhellin will start on the morning of January 25 on Freemans Way before doing a circuit around town and finishing at Merlins Hill.

Mark told the Herald: “I went out the other day to see what I could do without any proper training and I managed to run and walk between 9-10 hours”.

When he was 16 Mark trained to be in the army, but he failed the 1.5mile run and was voted fattest person in the troop, but that made him more determined to succeed. He added: “I was laughed at because I said I wanted to be a commando but a year later I achieved it and was awarded a green beret.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in life, what your current situation is, you can still achieve great things by setting goals and believing in yourself one day at a time.

“I feel stronger now mentally than what I was when I broke the 100k treadmill world record at 27.”

Mark did not realise how serious the NHS cuts were and says it’s time to take action. He added: “I think Dr Chris Overton and the SWAT Team have done a fantastic job of highlighting the situation. If these cuts go ahead then there will be unnecessary deaths in the county. The reason I decided to do the 24-hour event is because it can highlight the issue and no matter how painful this will be for me it will be still be quite easy compared to losing a child which sadly will happen for many people if we let these cuts go ahead”.

Mark is currently in the process of inviting celebrities with local ties to Pembrokeshire to support the hospital. One of them who he has a tremendous amount of respect for is Christian Bale. Christian was born five days after Mark in Haverfordwest and is now a huge movie star. The event is sponsored by Grill Bar Haverfordwest and Eddies Rocks nightclub.

Mark is hoping that people will join in the SWAT protests so the people can have a say in their families’ future. Five days later, on Christian’s 40th birthday, schools around the county are having a super hero fancy dress fun and sports day to support the hospital.

Anyone is encouraged to join in with Mark on his run and walk on January 25 for any leg of the journey to show support.

For more information you can visit the SWAT Facebook page or they can visit www.pembswat.org.uk

Community

Milford Haven Sea Cadets celebrate offshore voyage success

Published

10 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

SIX CADETS from Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets have completed a challenging week-long offshore voyage aboard T.S. John Jerwood.

The cadets took to the water for a demanding but enjoyable week, gaining a number of qualifications despite difficult weather conditions.

The unit congratulated all six cadets on their achievements and thanked the Sea Cadet Offshore team for making the voyage possible.

A spokesperson said: “Voyages like this are only made possible by the brilliant Sea Cadet Offshore team. Thank you for the amazing work you do to allow this amazing opportunity to be possible.

“BZ all!”

The Milford Haven unit also thanked West Wales District Sea Cadets, South West Area Sea Cadets, Sea Cadets Offshore, South West Area Senior Staff Officer, and RFCA for Wales for their support.

Community

Welsh Government announces grassroots Pride fund open for applications

Published

13 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Ella Groves, ICNN Senedd Reporter

A WELSH Government fund supporting local Pride events will open for applications next week.

The Grassroots Pride Fund, delivered with support from Pride Cymru, aims to help organisers from across Wales with event costs.

From Monday June 15, organisers can apply to the fund to gain financial support for Pride events across Wales in 2026/27.

There is £69,250 available from the fund this year – up from £17,700 in 2022/23.

In 2025 the fund supported 21 Pride events across Wales, including Barry Pride, Pembrokeshire Pride, and Wrexham Pride.

Aiming to expand the fund to more rural areas and small towns, the Welsh Government has said it wants to create “opportunities for people to come together and be their true selves throughout Wales”.

When applying for the funding, organisations should nominate one lead applicant who will act as project manager and have responsibility for the day-to-day management of the funding.

The fund is administered by Pride Cymru and applications can be made on its website after June 15. The deadline for applications is August 17.

Discussing the importance of the fund and Pride events, Deputy First Minister and minister for social justice and equalities, Sioned Williams, said: “As LGBTQ+ rights face growing threats, the new Welsh Government is clear: we will do all we can to protect and strengthen those rights here in Wales.

“Pride Month is a chance to celebrate the strength and inclusivity of our communities, and to recognise the volunteers whose commitment makes that possible.

“Volunteers bring people together, create spaces of welcome and belonging, and make sure LGBTQ+ people can celebrate safely and openly in their own communities.

“I have already attended Swansea Pride and Pontardawe Pride this month, and I’m looking forward to attending Pride Cymru in Cardiff this weekend and meeting some of the amazing organisations that support our LGBTQ+ communities.

“Respect, solidarity, and fair play are values that have always mattered to people in Wales, and this Welsh Government is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion. I am proud that we committed in our manifesto to providing ongoing support to Pride organisations.”

Dan Walsh, chair of Pride Cymru, said: “Local Prides play a vital role in creating safe, visible, and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people across Wales.

“This fund represents an important investment in grassroots Pride movements, helping community-led organisations develop, grow, and deliver meaningful events and activities that reflect the needs of their local LGBTQ+ communities.”

Community

Tenby 10k raises more than £20,000 for Paul Sartori

Published

14 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A POPULAR Tenby road race has raised more than £20,000 for Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

Runners and sponsors taking part in last year’s Tenby 10k raised £20,559.07 for the Pembrokeshire charity, which provides hospice care to people in their own homes.

The race, organised by Waterfront Community Runners, took place in October 2025 and was well supported by locals and visitors, who lined the route through the town to cheer on competitors.

Laura Hugman, Chief Executive of Paul Sartori, has now received the cheque, presented by a selection of those who took part in the event.

This year’s Tenby 10k will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, on a closed-road, two-lap course through the centre of Tenby.

More than 400 runners have already signed up, with entries now past 40 per cent capacity and organisers expecting the event to sell out again.

Anyone wishing to take part can enter at www.waterfrontcommunityrunners.co.uk.

All proceeds from this year’s race will again be donated to the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Caption:

Laura Hugman, Chief Executive of Paul Sartori, receives the cheque from Tenby 10k runners and organisers.