Community

Local families donate £10,000 to Hywel Dda Health Charities

Published

4 years ago

February 9, 2022

Clare is pictured with her 21-month-old daughter Leisi- Jên handing over the cheque to Bereavement Midwife Abi O’Connor.

TWO families have raised nearly £10,000 for maternity and bereavement services across the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Clare Last and Gareth Morgan-Isaac wanted to help after sadly losing their baby daughter Mari-Leisa Jên, who was still-born.

The donation to Hywel Dda Health Charities has funded nearly 3,000 special pregnancy advice wallets which will be given to mums-to-be across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

The bilingual wallets are a visual aid, giving healthy pregnancy tips on staying active, eating well and keeping appointments, along with advice on monitoring the pattern of baby’s movements. Parents can also keep their pregnancy notes inside.

Clare and Gareth have also donated a cuddle cot to Glangwili Hospital to help parents bereaved by stillbirth or neonatal loss to spend precious time with their babies at home before laying them to rest. And they have donated two more cots to funeral directors to help in the community.

The money was mainly raised through a walk up Snowdon by Clare and Gareth and their two families.

Clare, 29, who works in non-emergency patient transport for the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “The wallets are a visual aid which can be referred to at home by parents or with their midwife.

They are always on hand if anyone requires reassurance or guidance on what is normal in a pregnancy or if they need to voice any concerns.

“I hope mums-to-be and new mums will see the benefit of having the wallets and their important information and reassurance.”

Clare added: “When we lost Mari-Leisa, that time at home with her in a cuddle cot was so precious.

Clare and Leisi- Jên are also pictured with Clare’s mum, Joanne Last, alongside some of the new wallets being provided to new mums across the Hywel Dda area.

It enabled us to make special memories that we’ll never forget. We are, therefore, extremely pleased to be able to purchase three to help other families. It means so much.

“We hope the wallets will enable mums-to-be and new mums to have important information in one place.”

Sharon Clement Thomas, Interim Deputy Head of Midwifery, said: “Hywel Dda Maternity Service would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to Clare Last, Gareth Morgan-Isaac and their families who have fundraised and donated a considerable sum of money in memory Mari-Leisa Jên.

This money has been used to purchase Pregnancy Advice Wallets containing information to help keep pregnant women and their babies safe during their pregnancy.

“In addition to this generous donation, Clare has also kindly purchased a cuddle cot for Glangwili Hospital. These temperature-controlled cots prove invaluable to bereaved families, allowing them to spend precious time with their babies, creating memories that they will cherish.”

Community

Narbelles WI support Food Bank with festive donation

Published

5 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Group marks December meeting with charity collection and Christmas celebrations

NARBELLES WI rounded off the year with a festive December meeting featuring a bring-and-share buffet, party games and a Secret Santa gift exchange.

Members also used the occasion to support families in need across the county, collecting food items and presenting a £120 cheque to Ann Watling from Pembrokeshire Food Bank. The donation represents the proceeds of the group’s bucket collection during Narberth Civic Week 2024.

A spokesperson for the WI said the group was delighted to finish the year “with fun, friendship and a chance to give something back to the community.”

(Photo: Narbelles WI members presenting the cheque to Ann Watling, Pembrokeshire Food Bank.)

Community

Annual charity carol service raises funds for good causes

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service held its annual Charity Carol Service on Wednesday (Dec 10) at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel in Crymych.

The event brought together members of the local community alongside Fire Service staff for an evening of carols, readings and festive refreshments, marking the Christmas season in a warm and inclusive atmosphere.

This year’s service supported two important charities — the Fire Fighters Charity and Cancer Research Wales — with all proceeds going directly towards their ongoing work.

A total of £597 was raised on the night, which will be shared equally between the two charities.

The Service thanked the congregation at Ebeneser Baptist Chapel for hosting the event, as well as everyone who gave their time, support and generosity to make the evening such a success.

Community

3 Amigos toy bike run under way across Pembrokeshire

Published

1 day ago

December 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Castle Inn fun runners back festive charity event

THE ANNUAL 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run is under way this afternoon (Saturday), with hundreds of motorcyclists setting off from Pembroke to raise funds for children’s services.

Riders gathered at The Commons car park in Pembroke from around midday before departing shortly after 1:00pm. The festive convoy is travelling along its traditional route, taking in Pembroke Dock and continuing through parts of the county including Neyland, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest.

The event is organised by the 3 Amigos and Dollies Motorcycle Group and has become a much-anticipated Christmas tradition in west Wales, with toys and donations collected for children receiving care within the Hywel Dda University Health Board area.

Also supporting the event are fun runners from the Castle Inn in Pembroke, who have been fundraising in aid of the 3 Amigos. The group are pictured alongside participants from today’s run.

The 3 Amigos have been raising funds for children’s wards and health charities for more than twenty-five years, with their Easter and Christmas events continuing to make a positive difference to young patients and their families.

Organisers have thanked the public for their support and asked road users to be mindful of the large convoy as it passes through towns and villages this afternoon.

Photo caption:
Festive fundraising: Fun runners from the Castle Inn, Pembroke, pictured supporting the 3 Amigos Christmas toy bike run (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald)