Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A breast cancer survivor who has raised £1,000s for Prince Philip Hospital has made her most recent donation. Sue Ladd was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and has since made a full recovery. She received such fantastic care and support from staff at Prince Philip and Singleton Hospitals that she set up a registered charity, Sue Ladd and Friends, to raise funds for the units as a way of saying thanks. Since 2005 Sue Ladd & Friends have raised over £145,000 by organising a wide range of fun fundraising activities – from an annual charity ribbon race to a grand auction evening. The Breast Care Unit at Prince Philip Hospital has been the main beneficiary of financial support but they also support other local causes. They recently presented Mr Yeung Ng, Consultant Urological Surgeon, Hywel Dda University Health Board, with a cheque for £500 which will go towards the purchase of a state of the art ultrasound machine to help fight prostate cancer. The prostate ultrasound biopsy m...

In households across West Wales there will soon be great ideas for decorative tea cosies being turned into a reality ready for the St Davids Diocese Mothers' Union Tea Cosy Competition. The event was launched by St Davids Mothers' Union President Brenda Evans. The purpose of the competition is to raise awareness and funds for the Mothers' Union’s Wheels Appeal which provides funding for members in distant lands to support families in need. All hand made tea cosy entries may be decorated in any style and be both practical and decorative. Brenda Evans said “Mothers' Union members are known for their innovative ways and so I’m looking forward to seeing how imaginative they will be in designing tea cosies.” Competition entries can be received at any time during March and April. The closing date is April 30 and the winners will be announced at the Welsh Afternoon Tea Party in Bancyfelin village hall on Saturday, May 10 where all of the entries will be auctioned to raise...

The Mayor of Carmarthen Charity Appeals Committee held a successful coffee morning at St Peter’s Civic Hall. More than £400 was raised. The coffee morning, which was well attended, was opened by the Mayor Councillor Doug Rose. There were a variety of stalls representing local groups namely: The League of Friends, Towy Salmon Swimming Club, Carmarthen Guiding, Ty Cymorth Hospice, Carmarthen Town Twinning, and Carmarthen Amateur Operatic Society. The next event being organised by the Appeal Committee is a bingo night at the RAFA Club on the 27 March at 8pm, contact Debby on 01267 222326 for further details. Proceeds raised by the Appeal Committee are directed at local worthy causes. A well-attended first meeting of the year of the Mayor of Carmarthen Charity Appeal Committee saw the committee discuss a number of fundraising events to be held during 2014. Events being planned during 2014 are the popular Vintage Tea to be held on the 21 June at St Peter’s Civic Hall and a Craftern...

A Welsh charity is calling on the people of Wales to celebrate Wales and Welshness during ‘Big Welsh Month’ in March. Age Cymru – Wales’ largest older people’s charity, is organising the fun-filled month to raise funds to support its work with older people. Emma Lionel of Age Cymru says: “Big Welsh Month is Age Cymru’s new fundraiser which kicks off on St David’s Day and it runs all through March. “We’re asking the people of Wales to get involved, celebrate Wales and everything that’s Welsh, and have fun while helping Age Cymru to help older people across Wales. “Big Welsh Month is a great way of bringing everyone together to celebrate the diversity of Wales and we’re all very excited by it – we’ve even had someone in Melbourne in Australia contacting us wanting to be part of the celebrations. “So get involved and have fun with Age Cymru, your friends and family by celebrating Wales and Welshness during Big Welsh Month this March.” How you can get involved with Big Welsh M...

A golf day in memory of an Ammanford man has helped raised awareness and funds for prostrate cancer. Doug Davies died of prostate cancer on 14 February 2011, aged 68. He had few symptoms of this disease and it was discovered too late although his life was prolonged with treatment. His family felt it was important to raise awareness of prostate cancer and raise money to help buy essential equipment to help the fight against prostate cancer. His wife Sandra, daughter Denise and sons Stephen, Neil and Peter have set up an annual golf tournament at Glynhir Golf Club, Ammanford, with the first tournament in May 2011 raising £2,542. Following this success the family continued the yearly event and have raised a further £6,412. This money is going to be used to buy a much needed ultrasound machine for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Mr Moosa, Urologist, Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Davies family and all those that are supporting o...

A Carmarthenshire woman has climbed thousands of feet to raise thousands of pounds for Glangwili Hospital. Katie Hunt, from Ferryside, raised £4,800 for the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and holding local events. She raised the money after friend Charlotte Biggs, from Alltwallis near Lampeter, had a little girl Sophie in 2010 at 27 weeks weighing 2.4lbs. Sophie was stabilised at SCBU in Glangwili Hospital before being transferred to Singleton Hospital before returning to the SCBU for a further 4 weeks. Sophie is now a happy three and a half year old. Katie said: “Charlotte told me Sophie had fantastic care at the SCBU and that she also had wonderful support from all the staff at that difficult time. “I wanted to show my appreciation to the unit for taking care of Charlotte and Sophie and self-funded a climb to Kilimanjaro.” Sister Kelly Brown said: “We are so grateful to Katie for raising this fantastic amount of money and it will go towards buyin...

Calon Dda ladies charity group got hot under the collar and held a curry night at in aid of the Diabetic Unit at Prince Philip Hospital. The group raised £625 and are very pleased to see the money going to such a good cause. Hywel Dda Charitable Funds is a registered charity which helps provide the vital support beyond what the NHS currently provides and invests in the health and wellbeing of the local population. Charitable Funds provides support to help keep Hywel Dda’s services at the highest standards by providing grants to a variety of areas such as purchasing state of the art equipment, improving hospital environments, community care and supporting research Every day patients see the benefit of the kind donations from members of the public and we are very grateful for people’s generosity. For more information contact the Fundraising Team on 01269 239815 or fundraising.hyweldda@wales.nhs.uk . Download a fundraising pack from www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/supportforlife  ...

Cor Meibion Llanelli members presented a cheque for £100 to the STEPs III (3) project in Llanelli. The cash was raised as part of the choir's annual Christmas card appeal. Choir chairman Mel Harries said: "The choristers like to support a local charity every year with their Christmas card appeal and we know of the work of the STEPs III project through one of our choristers. "They do very important work on the project and we were delighted to do our little bit to help." Representatives of STEPs III, Tina Chapman and Liane Jones, attended the choir's weekly rehearsal to receive the cheque. They are pictured with Cor Meibion Llanelli musical director Eifion Thomas (left) and choir chairman Mr Harries. More about the STEPs III project -  The STEPs III Coleshill Project, Llanelli is the third STEPs Project by Carmarthenshire County Council. Employment and education allows people to develop new skills throughout their lives in appropriate work settings....