Charity
Nationwide’s Milford Haven branch skydive to raise cash for bereaved children
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STAFF from Nationwide in Milford Haven dove 10,000 feet through the skies over Swansea to raise over £3,000 for local children’s bereavement charity Sandy Bear.
Anna Strudwick and Holly Goodridge work as customer representatives at the Milford Haven branch in Charles Street, which is the town’s only remaining banking branch following closures in the town.
Ahead of the skydive, the pair ran a raffle in the branch to help raise money, featuring prizes donated by the community and local businesses. These included passes to Folly Farm, food and drink vouchers, and a free night’s stay in an Airbnb at a local beauty spot. The two surpassed their initial target of £800 by over £2,400, ultimately raising £3,272 for charity.
Nationwide matches funding up to £100 for each staff member raising money for charity. Britain’s biggest building society is committed to helping its staff engage with the local community – including by offering two days’ paid volunteering time a year for every staff member, as well as a “colleague grants” programme which can offer as much as £10,000 to charities that staff are involved with.
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Anna Strudwick, Customer Representative at Nationwide in Milford Haven, said: “Jumping out of a plane is a bit scary to say the least! But it’s for such an important cause, and I’m really glad that everyone else at the Milford Haven branch has supported our efforts. Branches are for more than just money matters – we’re really part of the community here, and it’s heartening to know that the money we’ve raised is going to help some of the most vulnerable young people in society.”
Lee Barnett, CEO of Sandy Bear said: “We work with children, young people and families facing a bereavement or who have been bereaved. We receive minimal statutory support, so every penny raised means we can have a positive impact on the lives of those we work with through the most difficult of circumstances wherever they reside throughout Wales.
“Congratulations to team Nationwide on their skydive, an amazing challenge which enables us to support more young people.”
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.
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.”
Charity
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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