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First Christmas on call for new St Davids RNLI Coxswain following in proud family tradition

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THE RNLI in Wales will see hundreds of its volunteer lifeboat crews sacrifice time with their loved ones to save others this Christmas, as 2021 figures show an increase in the number lifeboat launches during the festive season. It will be a proud occasion for Will Chant, who will be on call over Christmas as the station’s newest full-time Coxswain, following in the footsteps of his dad.

Saving a space for the pager on the Christmas dinner table is nothing new for the Chant family from Pembrokeshire, who have spent decades bracing themselves to swap Turkey for turbulent seas.

This Christmas Eve, Will celebrates 26 years of being a volunteer crew member at St Davids. He is following in the footsteps of proud dad Dai, a former station Coxswain who joined the St Davids crew in the early 60s. He’ll also be in good company should the call come over Christmas as brother Mike is also the station’s full-time mechanic.

Like crew members across Wales they will prepared to leave their loved ones to save others at Christmas. Over the past five years, RNLI lifeboats in Wales and the North West have launched nearly 100 times, with 49 people aided over the Christmas period. In Wales alone, there were 56 lifeboat launches in that five year period with 30 people aided.

Last year, RNLI lifeboats in Wales launched 12 times over the Christmas period, saving two lives and rescuing three people. This was compared with seven launches, and three people aided in 2020.

Will has vivid memories of holiday celebrations being cut short over the years, including a shout on 27 December 1997. A French fishing trawler Toul an Trez which had sunk suddenly some 35 miles out to sea in violent storms on Christmas Eve, with all five of the French fishermen lost during the tragedy. The St Davids crew launched their inshore and all-weather lifeboats a few days later to search for the casualties and the wreckage. It had began to wash up around the south west coastline of Wales.

A fire on board the Eves Marie trawler on 21 December 2004 also saw the St Davids RNLI crew abandon their pre-Christmas celebration. The RNLI crew had assisted in the rescuer of the crew from the burning trawler in rough seas and volunteers, including Will were called upon for a second time to stand by the vessel for much of the following day until she eventually sank.

This year, Will is hopeful for a quiet Christmas with wife Lottie and their son Harri, 12. They are looking forward to paying a visit to his dad and much-needed relaxation time.

He says: ‘Being brought up as a lifeboat family, we didn’t really flinch if the pager sounded and dad headed out of the door – it’s just what happened. There was no doubt I’d follow in his footsteps and answering the call over Christmas is not really any different to any time of the year. If someone needs your help, your training springs into action and you don’t really give it a second thought.

‘It’s an absolute privilege to be spending my very first Christmas on call as Coxswain of the St Davids lifeboat. Whilst I keep my fingers crossed the pager remains silent, but if it doesn’t, whatever the situation, myself, Mike and the crew will be there and I know dad will be so proud waiting at home for news.’

If the pager does remain silent, Will plans to open presents with his family, check on his horses and chickens before walking the dog. He will be following a tradition in visiting dad Dai and catching up with Mike, before settling down to Christmas dinner later in the early evening.

Winter can be one of the most challenging times to be a lifeboat volunteer with shorter days and the worst weather conditions of the year. But the dedication and courage shown by RNLI lifesavers means that, when the call to rescue comes in, they are ready and willing to head out. No matter if it’s the middle of a dark winter’s night, or in freezing sub-zero temperatures.

Mike adds: ‘We wouldn’t do what we are able to do without the support of the public, who work tirelessly throughout the year to raise the donation we so vitally need to enable us to continue saving lives. This is our opportunity to say thank you to all those who have supported us throughout the year. As Christmas approaches and the RNLI launches it’s Christmas appeal, your support is more important than ever and so appreciated.’

The RNLI provides a lifesaving service using volunteers wherever possible, with voluntary donations supplying the funds needed to do so. To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal, visit: RNLI.org/Xmas

Charity

Fundraising Ashmole & Co staff swap calculators for walking boots

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Ashmole & Co’s staff from across south and mid Wales will be swopping their calculators for walking boots later this month to hike 12 miles along the Mumbles Coastal Path to help raise funds for Tenovus Cancer Care.

With thirteen offices spread across mid and south Wales, approximately 100 staff, including Partners from Ashmole & Co, are currently in training to walk approximately 12 miles from Mumbles to Swansea and back again.

Sharon George, Partner with Ashmole and Co said, “We recently launched a year of fundraising in aid of Tenovus Cancer Care. Everyone knows someone who has been affected by cancer or has a family member receiving treatment themselves. We were keen to support a cancer charity based in Wales and all the funds raised would be used to support those affected by cancer in Wales. We hope our clients and friends will help us raise as much money as possible for this extremely worthy cause.”

Any donations to support Ashmole & Co’s fundraising for their walk which is taking place on Friday, 20 September 2024, would be very gratefully received. Here is the link to the Just Giving page, or you can donate directly to any member of staff or at any office: Ashmole and co is fundraising for Tenovus Cancer Care (justgiving.com)

Elin Murphy, Tenovus Cancer Care’s Regional Fundraising Manager for south west Wales, said, “We are very grateful to Ashmole & Co for choosing to help raise funds for Tenovus Cancer Care over the next 12 months. Your donations will mean that we can continue to support cancer patients and their loved ones with our services and actively campaign to improve outcomes and give a voice to all affected by cancer in Wales.”

Tenovus Cancer Care are a Wales-based charity which gives help, hope and a voice to everyone affected by cancer. Tenovus is there for anyone affected by cancer. Together with its inspiring community of supporters, volunteers and fundraisers, the charity is determined to be there for everyone affected today, tomorrow and beyond.

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Charity

Local housebuilder donates £2,000 to Saundersfoot Rotary Club

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THE Saundersfoot Rotary Club has been awarded a £2,000 cheque as one of the latest recipients of Persimmon Homes West Wales’ Community Champions initiative.

Tenderfoot Welsh Disabled Sports Club, sees Saundersfoot Rotary Club train and develop disabled athletes every year in a variety of sports, culminating in teams competing in the Welsh Disability Team Games.

The five-star housebuilder’s donation will go towards supporting the Rotary’s annual fundraising in support of the club, their sporting activities, and equipment.

The Community Champions scheme by Persimmon Homes West Wales donates £24,000 each year to community organisations and good causes in the areas it develops.

In July, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park supported Persimmon’s proposed development of a new sustainable community of 72 high-quality homes in Saundersfoot. 

The zero-carbon ready scheme includes a mix of quality new detached, semi-detached, terraced houses, and apartments, ranging from one to four bedrooms, which will help meet local housing needs and open the door to home ownership for more local families.

Ray Wise, from Saundersfoot Rotary Club, thanked Persimmon for the donation and commented: “Thank you to Persimmon for their kind donation. This money will help us at Saundersfoot Rotary Club to enhance Tenderfoot’s activities and enable more people with disabilities to get involved in sports. 

“Persimmon’s donation will help us foster a strong sense of community and empowerment, making a difference to the lives of people with disabilities across West Wales.”

Sharon Bouhali, Sales Director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, commented:

“Our Community Champions scheme is all about supporting the areas we operate in, and the community champions who go above and beyond to support others in their local community.

“The work that the Saundersfoot Rotary Club do to improve the lives of people living with disabilities is heartwarming, so we are delighted to support their ongoing work.”

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A family’s courageous fight against MND raises thousands for Paul Sartori

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A BRAVE family dealing with their mother’s diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease has raised £12,050 for Pembrokeshire-based charity The Paul Sartori Foundation. Ann Evans from Dinas Cross was diagnosed with the life-limiting condition MND in 2021 and her husband Steve and their 5 sons have rallied around Ann through the stages of her illness, showing incredible strength and resilience.

With MND, messages from the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord gradually stop telling muscles how to move, leading to a series of life-altering and life-limiting complications. The Paul Sartori Foundation was glad to be able to assist the family with equipment that could help Ann with mobility and comfort. Paul Sartori Senior Registered Nurse Gaynor Davies has also been supporting the family for the last few years.

“The Evans family have all shown extreme bravery in the face of Ann’s diagnosis and are an incredible example of a strong family unit. Ann’s husband Steve has ensured that Ann has the best care possible, and her sons and their families have gone above and beyond to help other families who find themselves in the same circumstances”.
Ann’s sons, Aled, Billy, Ceri, Hefin, and Gwyn, set up a fundraiser earlier this year. The brothers wanted to do something to honour their mother’s courage, so set themselves individual challenges to raise money for the Paul Sartori Foundation.

Ceri undertook the Welsh 15 Peaks Challenge with friends Xav, Andy, and Simon, hiking all 15 peaks higher than 3,000 feet in Eryri in less than 24 hours. Billy ran 5k every day for a month, which is akin to running from Fishguard to Cardiff! Gwyn, who lives in New Zealand, undertook a mini-triathlon in Whangarai on North Island, managing a 2k sea swim, 25k cycle, and 8k hike. Aled and his friends Ed and Phil hiked 21k along the challenging ridge of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.

Aiming to raise £5,000, the boys, whose children also joined them for their challenges, were overwhelmed by the show of financial and moral support for their cause. Having more than doubled their fundraising amount, the donation now goes to help buy equipment to help other families dealing with mobility issues due to life-limiting palliative illnesses such as MND. With the money raised, the hospice at home charity will purchase two beds with specialist mattresses and rails. Ann had also received a high-tech chair from the Motor Neurone Society and with the money raised, The Paul Sartori Foundation will be able to buy the same chair to help other patients in the future.

Clinical Coordinator and Equipment Facilitator Pat Coombs was invited to meet the family and thanked them for the incredible amount donated to the Equipment Hire department at Paul Sartori.

Pat said, “With the help of this brave family we’re able to help and support other families with specialist equipment that will give people the best quality of life and as much dignity as possible in their hour of need”.

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