Community

Charity appeal raises over £3k

Published

12 years ago

February 11, 2014

AN appeal set up for the Kidney Wales Foundation Charity in support of Adam Hughes of Tenby has raised the magnificent sum of £3,075.45.

Adam, a popular Teaching Assistant at Ysgol Greenhill School, was unfortunately diagnosed with kidney failure in April 2014, and is now on daily dialysis whilst he awaits a kidney transplant.

Following the diagnosis, Adam’s girlfriend Sabrina Revell and friends Alan Townsend, Stephen Handicott and Kathryn Hudson decided to run the Tenby 10k and the Cardiff Half Marathon in support of the Cardiff based charity, Kidney Care Wales, to raise much needed funds.

Donations of sponsorship came in from family, friends, work colleagues and many others in the community who all gave very generously in support of the appeal, and the fund was also swelled with the very kind donations received from the Welsh Cake Ladies of St John’s Church (£200), a collection at the Harvest Festival of Tenby V C Infants School (£240) a collection jar at the Buccaneer Inn Tenby (£103.72) and members of both Tenby and Saundersfoot Rotary Club. Special mention also to John Handicott who collected a large amount from the very generous Tenby harbour community.

The fund was also boosted considerably over the Christmas period with a magnificent collection of £375 in lieu of 50th birthday presents for Mr Russell Knox of Carew, (popularly known of course as Mutley), along with a collection of £260 at a New Year’s Day ‘Banish the Turkey’ walk around the Carew Mill Pond by members of Carew Football and Cricket Club and others from the Carew community organised by Mrs Carol Cole and her brother Mr Kerry Waters. (Many contributors to these two events had already sponsored the runners and their generosity is very gratefully appreciated).

All the runners, Adam and parents Linda and John Hughes are extremely grateful to everyone for all their support both for the appeal and for the family since Adam was diagnosed. The runners will not be resting on their laurels though and are now busy training for further runs in aid of Kidney Care Wales in 2014 including the Tenby and Cardiff 10k and the Cardiff Half Marathon. Adam is now on the transplant list for a kidney transplant. The transplant list for all of the UK is run from Bristol with some 10,000 people of all ages currently waiting for a kidney. When kidneys become available those on the list are checked for a match, and the person who is the best match and has been waiting the longest is selected.

Unfortunately the average time on the list is some three years and there is a great need for more people to become donors. All involved in the above appeal would encourage everyone to join the Organ Donation list, this can be achieved in just a couple of minutes online at www.organdonation.nhs.uk or you can do so by phoning the free phone number 0300 123 23 23.

There is a need to greatly increase the number of people who are willing to consent to organ donation and whilst it is very welcome that the opt-out system was coming to Wales, that was not until 2015, and even then there was the need to change people’s perception that organ donation was a good and natural thing to do. You can also read Adam’s blog ‘Life on the Transplant List’ on the internet at this link. http://adamjohnhughes.wordpress.com/

Community

Hospital staff to climb Pen y Fan for Ward 4 fundraiser

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

STAFF from Ward 4 at Withybush Hospital are preparing to climb Pen y Fan to raise money for their surgical ward.

The team will take on the challenge on Saturday, September 5, 2026, climbing the highest peak in South Wales in Bannau Brycheiniog.

The fundraiser aims to raise £500, with money going directly towards improving the ward environment for patients.

Staff said: “We have organised this event to raise funds that will go directly towards enhancing the ward environment for patients, including purchasing items such as TVs to improve comfort and wellbeing during their stay.

“We’re hoping to raise £500.”

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer, said: “A huge thank you to the team on Ward 4 for embracing the challenge and choosing to raise funds for their ward. We hope you have a fantastic day and truly enjoy the experience.

“The generous charitable donations we receive do not replace NHS funding. Instead, they support additional items and activities outside core NHS expenditure. These small extras make a big difference, and we are so grateful for every donation we receive.”

Donations can be made to the Ward 4 Pen y Fan fundraiser at: https://hyweldda.enthuse.com/cf/ward-4-staff-at-withybush-hospital-s-pen-y-fan-cha

For more information about Hywel Dda Health Charities and how to support local NHS patients and staff, visit: hywelddahealthcharities.nhs.wales

Pictured:

Staff from Ward 4

Community

Charles Street to come alive for Milford Haven Founders Day

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CHARLES STREET will once again be transformed into a bustling pedestrian zone as Milford Haven celebrates its annual Founders Day on Saturday (June 6).

Milford Haven Business Circle, in collaboration with Milford Haven Town Council, is bringing the much-loved community event back to the town centre to celebrate the town’s heritage, history and community spirit.

The event will run from 11:00am until 4:00pm, with a programme of free family entertainment including bouncy castles, face painting, local stalls, community groups, activities for all ages and live entertainment organised by the Boulevard Theatre.

The day’s celebrations will also be professionally photographed by Captured Soul Photography.

Founders Day gives residents and visitors the chance to come together to celebrate Milford Haven’s past while supporting the businesses, organisations and community groups that continue to make the town a vibrant place today.

To allow the event to take place safely, a road closure will be in force from the junction of Francis Street to Dartmouth Street between 10:00am and 5:00pm. Once the closure is in place, Charles Street will become a pedestrian-only zone.

Medical and event safety cover throughout the day will be provided by Pegasus Ambulance Service.

Milford Haven Business Circle has thanked Milford Haven Town Council, Taste of Haven, PATCH, Tesco Milford Haven, Ambulance Friends, The Ascona Group and Green Light Traffic Management for their support in helping make this year’s event possible.

Business Circle members supporting the event include Cast N Craft Fishing for Health, Pegasus Ambulance Service, Elizabeth Christie Bridal Wear, Taste of Haven, Phoenix Yarns, Phoenix Bowl, Alf Seren Collectables, Granby’s, Captured Soul Photography, Moon Goddess Emporium and Milford Haven Town Council.

Everyone is welcome to attend and entry is free.

Community

Explore Pembrokeshire after hours with lighthouse tours and bat walks

Published

2 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SERIES of special evening events will offer visitors a different way to experience the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park this summer.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority is running exclusive after-hours events at Strumble Head Lighthouse and in St Davids, giving people the chance to explore the area’s heritage and wildlife as dusk falls.

Explore the Lighthouse tours will provide rare access to one of the coast’s best-known landmarks at Strumble Head. Led by National Park Authority staff, the small-group tours will begin with a first-hand account of lighthouse life from the current keeper.

A Ranger-led session will then look at the station’s maritime heritage, including the history of nearby shipwrecks, before exploring the lighthouse’s links with the Coast Path, surrounding farmland and the native wildlife that becomes active after dark.

The tours will take place on four Friday evenings this summer: June 19, July 3, July 17 and August 7. Two timed slots will be available each evening, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm and 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

In St Davids, Brilliant Bats will give visitors the chance to discover more about the wildlife that emerges from the nooks and crannies around the city’s iconic cathedral after dark.

Bat detectors will be provided, with guidance from a Park Authority Ranger on how to use them, as well as information about the elusive nocturnal creatures.

The bat walks will take place on Friday, August 14, from 8:15pm to 10:15pm, and Thursday, August 27, from 7:45pm to 9:45pm.

Rachel Perkins, Manager of Oriel y Parc, National Park Discovery Centre in St Davids, said: “These events offer a chance to experience familiar places in a completely different way.

“From stepping inside Strumble Lighthouse and hearing stories from the current keeper, to listening for bats around St Davids Cathedral after dark, each event brings people closer to the landscape, heritage and wildlife of the National Park.”

Booking is essential. Tickets for both Explore the Lighthouse and Brilliant Bats cost £10 per person and can be reserved at www.pembrokeshirecoast.wales/events.

Caption: Enjoy a different way of experiencing the Park this summer with special evening events run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.