tŷ hafan cwtch autumn/winter 2015

cwtchour news and stories from ty hafan

newsletter autumn/winter

2015

your support means everything

inside colourful fun at the rainbow run p.2

raising awareness of children's hospice services p.10

tackling thewelsh3peaks challenge p.14

welcomeWelcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of Cwtch.When you ask people what Ty Hafan means to them, answers are often varied and always very personal. One popular response is that Ty Hafan provides our families with memories and experiences that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to have.

The pressure on parents living the role of carer, 24 hours a day, means that treasuring the moments that they have together can take a back seat. Everything we do at Ty Hafan is to ensure that our families can make the most of the precious time they have together. Short-break care takes some of the pressure of being a carer away and allows them to be a family. Unique therapy sessions help children to develop skills that can often surpass their parents and, even, doctors’ expectations. Our outreach programme means we can bring what makes Ty Hafan special into the home. Most of all, Ty Hafan provides a source of support.

Thank you so much for your support - it means the world to our amazing families.

contentscolourful fun at our rainbow run ..................................................................02

putting leigh through his paces ...................................................................04

the doctor drops in ...........................................................................................04

yo ho ho great family fun ...............................................................................05

sibs need us too ...............................................................................................06

special family opens ty hafan’s 30th shop ...............................................08

raising awareness of children's hospice service .....................................10

ty hafan is the most wonderful place i have ever worked ....................12

tackling the welsh3peaks challenge ...........................................................14

we can all make our mark in wales ............................................................16

your fairy-tale wedding can make a child’s day ......................................16

thank you for making sure families are never alone ..............................17

reaching for fundraising peaks .....................................................................18

golf benefit helps raise over £20,000 ty hafan ........................................18

loyal support from sully friends of ty hafan ................................................18

our superstar volunteers .................................................................................19

superstar volunteer recognised with award ............................................19

raffle sunshine for lucky winners .................................................................20

crackerjackpot ...................................................................................................20

emma and tara's great shave ......................................................................21

farmers' union of wales ..................................................................................21

arriving in style ...................................................................................................22

please help us continue to be there ...........................................................23

For anyone who has visited Ty Hafan, one of the most tangible elements is how it is bursting with colour, from its unique atmosphere to the colourful characters and, of course, the splashes of colour of our handprint wall and vibrant wheelchair art.

The closest we have come to recreating that colourful atmosphere is during one of our amazing Rainbow Runs.

We have held two Rainbow Runs’ so far this year. The first took place in Porthcawl back in April and was followed by our first trip to the Dare Valley Country Park in Aberdare in July.

Participants walked, ran, skipped, danced and even hopped the route, all while being engulfed with clouds of powdered paint along the way.

With approximately 2,400 people having already taken part, and another 1,500 set to tackle the 5km course on Pendine Sands in September, our Rainbow Run is expected to raise more than £150,000 for Ty Hafan to help children with life-limiting conditions and their families all over Wales.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part so far. If you haven't yet, but would like to,don't worry as we have lots of Rainbow Runs planned for next year.

fun at our rainbow run

fruoc lo u

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cwtch our news and stories from ty hafan 029 2053 2199 www.tyhafan.org

One of the children who benefits from Ty Hafan’s support is little Alyssia from Cwmbach in Aberdare.

When Alyssia was four months old, her mum, Danielle, noticed she wasn’t developing like other babies her age and after a number of tests, Alyssia was diagnosed with Schizencephaly – a rare developmental brain disorder.

At almost four years old, she is unable to walk or talk but brings lots of joy to her family with her beautiful smile and cheery character.

Danielle says she takes every day as it comes and concentrates on making the most of every moment with her daughter.

She said: “I sometimes wonder why us? Why me? But we’ve

just got to get on with it. I am just so grateful that we aren’t alone as Ty Hafan is there to support us.”

Alyssia has also been diagnosed with global development delay, epilepsy, visual impairment and a chromosome abnormality.

Danielle feels exhausted at times as Alyssia’s condition requires round-the-clock care, which is why Ty Hafan’s support is so vital for her family, especially the short-break care they receive at the hospice.

Danielle said: “Having time to relax at Ty Hafan is so valuable. I very rarely have a good night’s sleep so it’s great to catch up on some rest when we’re there. Last time, Alyssia stayed on her own. It was really difficult to leave her but the team at Ty Hafan are

incredible and I know she’ll be well looked after.

“It is a little holiday for her as well as for me. They all fight over her when she’s there and she is able to experience things that she can’t do anywhere else. She absolutely loves the hydrotherapy pool and the sensory room.”

“It’s an amazing charity and I would encourage as many people to show their support as possible so they can help more families like ours.”

A big thank you to all of our corporate sponsors who have supported our Rainbow Runs in 2015, getting well and truly into the spirit of the events: Jane Hodge Foundation, J&J Motors, Peter Lynn and Partners, South Wales Wood Recycling, Coney Beach Amusements, EE, Gerry Hill, Crownford Training, DVS

Ltd, RCT Homes, Ants Hill, Princes Gate and Narberth Round Table.

Finally, thank you to all of our incredible marshals who help out on the day. You do a fantastic job and we couldn’t run the events smoothly without you. All of your support means so much to everyone at Ty Hafan.

fun at our rainbow run

ful

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autumn/winter 2015

Wales rugby superstar Leigh Halfpenny took some time out of his summer training regime to visit Ty Hafan and meet some of the families with his partner Jess. The couple spent a beautiful summer’s afternoon bringing smiles to the faces of everyone in attendance.

We weren’t content to let them mingle quietly though. Leigh was put through his paces in an obstacle race against three-year-old Callum Sainsbury and his parents, Amie and Paul, culminating in an impromptu water-fight with Ty Hafan staff.

Leigh also picked the winning ticket for this year’s Summer Raffle, signed countless posters, balls, boots and shirts, and made some promotional videos.

All of our Ambassadors are so important to Ty Hafan, allowing us to continue to provide care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Whether they are celebrities like Leigh, who help increase our exposure and bring joy to

our families, Corporate and Charity Ambassadors who work tirelessly and use their contacts to raise money and awareness or inspirational Family Ambassadors who have used Ty Hafan’s services and want to tell of their experiences, they are all vital members of the Ty Hafan family.

putting leigh through his paces

the doctor drops inFresh off his latest intergalactic mission, The Doctor himself, Peter Capaldi, made a delightful impromptu visit to the hospice.

While he didn’t arrive in the TARDIS, Ty Hafan wasn’t overrun by Daleks or Cybermen, which was certainly good news. That gave him plenty of opportunity to meet with our families, pose for photos and hear their stories. He is a true gentleman and is welcome back any time.

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yo ho ho and great family fun Warm sunshine, cloudless skies, the sound of mayhem and rambunctious pirates laying siege to the shore – must be the Caribbean circa 1720.

Well no…actually, this was the scene at our Family Fun Day at Ty Hafan on Saturday 4 July 2015.

This year’s pirate theme transformed the hospice into a treasure island with fantastic attractions including fairground rides, face painting, stalls of all description and much more.

It was also a great opportunity for visitors to be shown around the hospice by members of the Care Services team and

see how their support helps families in our care, including the hydrotherapy pool and our new state-of-the-art kitchen.

It was an event tailor-made for one of our most unique supporters, Captain Jack Sparrow, AKA Geordie Depp. Always a great supporter of our events, the Johnny Depp lookalike has been ever-present at our Midnight Sleep Walks and Wales Onesie Walk, having

joined the ladies around an impressive six laps of Cardiff and Swansea to date.

Captain Jack, spotted making his merry way around the hospice grounds in his own inimitable style, said: “I have met the most amazing people along the way, devoting their time and effort to raise the funds needed to give care and support to children with life-limiting conditions

and their families. Since my first event a few years ago, I have continued to support their efforts and always look forward to my next adventure with Ty Hafan.”

Watch out for information about our next Family Fun Day on our website.

“I always look forward to my next

adventure with Ty Hafan.”

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autumn/winter 2015

sibs need us too Growing up can be a difficult time for many children. We rely on our parents and families heavily in our formative years until we become more independent and make the transition to young adulthood.

The family dynamic for siblings of children with a life-limiting condition can be vastly different from what most of us would consider the norm. While parents do everything they can, having a poorly brother or sister can be a lonely experience, forcing the child to grow up quickly and miss out on much of what it is to be a child. Siblings often feel resentful of the attention received by their unwell brother or sister and resent quickly becomes guilt, as most siblings in this position are mindful of the immense pressure that their families are under.

Our Sibling Support Coordinator, Anna Bowyer, runs Ty Hafan’s sibling groups and reminds us that, "sibs need us too". Designed to provide a time and a place for children to be themselves and meet and make friends with others in a similar situation, the groups have been a great success. Many of the

adolescent siblings continue their friendship outside of the group and develop strong connections to assist with their transition into adulthood.

Anna said: “For most of these children, the hospice is a special place, brimming with happy memories, and it is important for them to have access to a place where they are able to hear stories of their sibling, told with love by the staff who cared for them.”

Anna also provides one-to-one support for siblings who have a specific identified need that wouldn’t be met by sibling groups, perhaps addressing bereavement or issues such as bullying and low self-esteem.

The sibling groups aim to hold a minimum of three events every month, either at the hospice or in the community, and cater for children and young people between four and 18 years old.

Rowan Jenkins-Roberts is in one of our sibling groups and enjoys the time he gets to spend at Ty Hafan with other children who have been through similar experiences as he has, following the death of his brother, Rhys.

He said: “In school, I have friends – but they don’t know what it’s like, so I think it’s quite nice that Ty Hafan get children with those experiences together to have fun…we know it but we don’t tend to talk about it, we just like have fun. We look forward to coming here to play with our friends. I like just chatting with my friends and when we have Halloween and Christmas parties, I find that really fun. Sometimes we go out and play rounders or we just go in the playground and mess about.

“It’s important to me because Rhys used to come here and I think it’s nice that I still have bits of Rhys in me. Because I only

knew him for about four years, I like to see the people he’s met. They tell me how funny he was and how they used to have good times with him.”

Anna said: “I’m looking forward to working further with the siblings, to ensure the service stays fun, valuable and youth led. So, if you’ve got a suggestion, you know where to find me!”

Follow all the sibling activities on Twitter www.twitter.com/anna_bowyer

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the hospice is a special

place brimming with happy memories

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autumn/winter 2015

special family opens ty hafan’s 30th shop You may remember from the last edition of Cwtch, we helped Angela Newman, a bereaved mum, find the perfect wedding dress at our Emporium boutique store in Cowbridge. The happy day took place this summer and the couple looked amazing and full of joy as they finally tied the knot after 22 years together.

Just two days earlier on Friday 5 June, Angela, soon-to-be husband Stephen and three of their daughters opened our 30th shop on Working Street in Cardiff City Centre.

Angela said: “We will never forget what Ty Hafan has done for our family. Losing Katie was devastating, but Ty Hafan helped us spend her final precious days in the most comforting environment for the whole family.”

Stephen, who has suffered his own health problems including undergoing a quadruple heart bypass, has signed up to be a volunteer for the new shop – which was opened during National Volunteers’ Week.

He said: “We were honoured to be opening the new Cardiff shop. Ty Hafan continues to help us so much. Although Katie passed away over three years ago, we still feel very much part of the Ty Hafan family.”

Our shops make a valuable contribution to Ty Hafan – raising around a third of our income so we can provide care and support to life-limited children and their families in the hospice and out in the community.

To celebrate the opening of the shop, we received a number of unique items including a signed Joe Calzaghe boxing glove and signed CDs from John Barrowman and Bonnie Tyler.

Ty Hafan’s 30 shops are located across Wales and are always in need of good-quality stock donations and volunteers to lend a hand. Visit www.tyhafan.org/shop-volunteer if you are interested in more information or to apply to become a volunteer in one of our shops.

Keep an eye out for our 31st shop, the boutique Emporium, opening in Cardiff's Royal Arcade.

“We will never forget what

Ty Hafan has done for our

family.”


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autumn/winter 2015

raising awareness of children's hospice servicesChildren’s Hospice Week, the annual awareness and fundraising week for children’s hospice services in the UK, took place between 11–17 May. The week highlights how services like Ty Hafan help amazing families like the Watkins family from Merthyr Tydfil.

Twins, Lewys and Rhodri, were born in 2001, and at ten weeks old were sadly diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a life-limiting condition causing progressive muscle deterioration. This devastating news was naturally hard to come to terms with for parents Wendy and Adrian and big brother, nine-year-old Aled.

“We felt very isolated and alone as a family,” said Wendy.

“We didn’t know anything about the condition but

learnt very quickly how it would ultimately affect the boys and consequently the whole family.”

The family first visited Ty Hafan in the spring of 2008 and the charity has supported them ever since.

“I think the biggest thing that Ty Hafan gives the twins is confidence,” said Wendy. “They are really quiet and sometimes don’t say anything at all in certain environments, but at Ty Hafan, they are totally different and can be themselves.

“During their last stay, they were playing all sorts of practical jokes. They decorated the Maintenance Manager’s office in One Direction pictures, covered a toilet seat with cling film and tried to make Hayley, our vegetarian Family Support Practitioner, eat meat!

“They have big smiles on their faces when we arrive and they never want to go home. They have such a wonderful time when they stay.”

While the twins make use of the computer room,

the teenage den and the hydrotherapy pool, all designed to encourage them to express themselves, mum and dad can relax and spend some quality time together.

Their Family Support Practitioner, Hayley Mason, keeps in touch regularly and is always around to help with decisions regarding the boys care, ensuring the family is supported at home as well as the hospice.

Wendy is part of the mums’ group, providing her and other mums with pamper


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lewys and rhodri’s favourite ty hafan memoryWe like to make members of staff do something called "The Chicken Dance" as a form of initiation to our team. However, one of the times we asked a student nurse to do it outside when it was raining, but just as she started, a group of people in smart clothes, visiting the hospice to have a look around, walked through the front room and caught her outside, dancing like a chicken. We thought this may seem strange to them but we were delighted to see them all laughing and even cheering her along."

Read their story in full at: www.tyhafan.org/family-stories/lewys-and-rhodris-story

heroes from history celebrate at our hospice partyChildren’s Hospice Week was an incredibly busy time, with activities including Fancy Dress Friday in Welsh schools and local businesses, culminating in a fantastic time-themed fancy dress party at Ty Hafan. Cleopatra, the Rubix Cube, Bill and Ted and a whole host of other icons from different eras dropped by the hospice and the party was featured on digital TV channel, Made in Cardiff. Face-painting, balloon-making and an impromptu dance competition all added to a brilliant day.

experiences and shopping trips and Adrian has recently joined the dads’ group – giving them both a chance to unwind and share their feelings with people in the same situation.

Aled has been volunteering in our Merthyr shop for the last three years. He said: “I am passionate and committed to this charity and I feel it is a way of giving something back for all the help and support it gives my family and other families across Wales.

“I have had some great times at Ty Hafan and have had the opportunity to meet other siblings in a similar situation as myself. We could talk about our concerns as well as chilling and having a good laugh."

Unfortunately, Lewys and Rhodri’s condition has deteriorated over the years and they now need wheelchairs to get around.

Wendy said: “They are now off their feet and we have to do everything for them, like washing and dressing them. They are 14 in September

and caring for their needs as they grow into young men can be challenging and quite tiring at times.

“That’s why when we come to Ty Hafan and have that break, it means so much. It’s a time to recharge the batteries, catch up on some much-needed sleep (I sleep better at Ty Hafan than I do at home!) and have a bit of ‘me’ time.”

Wendy and Adrian know that the future will get more difficult as the twins become more and more dependent on them and the rest of

Wendy’s family who are also happy to give support whenever it is needed.

“For the moment we take life as it comes” said Wendy. “The boys have good and bad days but our philosophy is to try to do as much as we can – for as long as we can”.

“It’s good to know that Ty Hafan will be there to lend a helping hand along the way.”

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autumn/winter 2015

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ty hafan is the most wonderful place i have ever workedPlay is an incredibly important aspect of every child’s development, allowing them to express themselves, expend energy, learn to problem-solve and achieve goals.

Sarah Merrick is the Palliative Care Play Specialist at Ty Hafan and she and her team help the children who use Ty Hafan’s services grow and learn through playing.

Sarah has been qualified in the field for 12 years and, before joining Ty Hafan in November 2014, worked in a hospital environment.

She said: “I wanted to challenge myself and have a new adventure in my life. I really do have the best job in the world, making the most of every moment as well as having a lot of fun at the same time.

“The play team and I are responsible for providing in-house play sessions for the

children and families that are staying with us. We provide individual and group activities every day for the children. Each activity can be tailored to the child’s specific need, age and development appropriate.”

The team has recently launched the use of play recording sheets that go home with the children, telling their parents exactly what they have been doing during their stay, along with pictures capturing those fun memories. They also arrange events and themed days that allow all children and their families to join in and have fun, such as a sports challenge with Leigh Halfpenny and ‘have a cup of tea and chat’ mornings.

While play is often a spontaneous activity, the team plans each session meticulously. They are looking to develop how they prepare play sessions, for children visiting the hospice, in the near future. Sarah said: “Our goal is to devise comprehensive plans for each child that attends Ty Hafan for a stay. This will enable all staff to familiarise themselves with each child’s individual play needs and any other relevant information that is vital to the child having a great stay with us.

“As a Play Specialist, I also provide pre and post procedural play and support for children having medical treatment and interventions. This can be done either in the

hospice or in a community setting. I can also provide parents with some distraction techniques that they can use at home if their child is in any distress or feels upset.

“Ty Hafan is the most wonderful place I have ever worked. The fact that I can have my morning coffee in such an idyllic setting looking across the sea means a lot, but nothing beats the sound of children, siblings, families and staff laughing and enjoying themselves…….that’s why it is the best job in the world.”

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Every child has the right

to play. Our team uses

specialist equipment and

techniques to help children

make decisions about how

they engage with the world

around them.

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autumn/winter 2015

tackling the welsh3peaks challenge The famous Welsh summer can be very unkind when it comes to the weather, and no more proof is needed than at this year’s GE Aviation Wales Welsh3Peaks Challenge.

More than 400 participants, including a team made up of members of the Ty Hafan dads' group, braved possibly the worst weather conditions the event has seen in the last 17 years to tackle Snowdon – the highest mountain in Wales – before scaling the mighty Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan – all in less than 15 hours.

They covered a total distance of 20.35 miles in rain and heavy fog before being greeted by a heroes welcome and a well-deserved barbecue, kindly provided by Just Perfect Catering, at the finish point in Pen y Fan.

The event, sponsored by GE Aviation Wales, has raised more than £1.4m for Ty Hafan since its launch in 1998, providing vital funds for us to continue to help families of children with life-limiting conditions make the most of the time they have left together.

The dads’ team included Gary Footman, Adam Bayjoo, Chis Jenkins and Ben Jones who all share the common bond of being supported by Ty Hafan.

Ben Jones’ four-year-old daughter, Hallie Mae, was referred to Ty Hafan two years ago as she suffers from a rare genetic condition called cri du chat syndrome. Infants with the condition often have a high-pitched cry that sounds like a cat and the condition affects mental and physical development. Ben, from Barry,

who enjoyed the challenge so much that he wants to do it again next year, said: “Ty Hafan has done so much for Hallie Mae and our family so it was great to give something back by taking part in the Welsh3Peaks Challenge. It was a really tough day but I just kept thinking about what we were doing it for which gave me a real boost. It was really good to do it with a great bunch of guys who have all been helped by Ty Hafan and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

Ty Hafan’s Male Support Worker, Gareth Jenkins, joined the dads’ group for the challenge. “What our families are going through is extremely tough,” said Gareth. “The Welsh3Peaks Challenge was a chance for the dads to raise money and give something back, but ultimately build

life-long friendships that will help them along their journeys.” Other supporters included Brecon Carreg - Welsh Natural Mineral Water, 9bar, Burtons Biscuits, Pot Noodle, Garth Bakery, Op Chocolates and L'Oreal.

On supporting the Welsh3Peaks Challenge, La-Chun Lindsay, Managing Director of GE Aviation Wales said: “We are delighted and proud to support the Welsh3Peaks Challenge. At GE Aviation Wales, the challenge is the highlight of our volunteering calendar and now in its 17th year, the event is still going strong. I was fortunate enough to visit the hospice before this year’s challenge to witness the amazing care Ty Hafan provides to a variety of children and their families. The impact Ty Hafan has in both the community and on families is incredible and events like this enable the remarkable work at Ty Hafan to continue.


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"The atmosphere on the day was inspiring and it

was amazing to see people coming together to raise

money and awareness for such a wonderful charity and

worthwhile cause.”

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autumn/winter 2015

We can all leave our mark on the world,

no matter how long we live

your fairy-tale wedding can make a child’s day By buying Ty Hafan wedding favours, you can celebrate your big day while supporting children with short lives in Wales.

We have a range of personalised wedding favours available. For more information call us on 029 2053 2255, email [email protected] or visit www.tyhafan.org/in-celebration.

we can all make our mark in walesDuring her retirement, our founder, Suzanne Goodall MBE, felt driven to campaign for a children’s hospice in Wales and spent 11 years raising the funds needed to build our hospice to start providing care and support to children with short lives.

All of the children who Ty Hafan supports will leave their priceless mark on the world and there’s a very special way that you can leave your mark too – by including a gift for Ty Hafan in your will.

We know that including a gift to Ty Hafan in your will is a big decision and we understand that you will want to provide for your loved ones first. We are happy to answer any questions and give you more information about the care and support that your gift will provide.

If you have any questions or would like any more information, please contact us on 029 2053 2255 or email [email protected].

You can also find more information at www.tyhafan.org/gift-in-a-will.

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Thank you for caring

thank you for making sure families are never alone We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated to our recent appeal. Thanks to your generosity, we can make sure that families like Molly and Emily’s don’t have to face the reality of caring for a child with a short life alone.

In the space of just eight months, Sarah and James, Molly and Emily’s mum and dad, were told that not only one, but both of their beautiful little girls, were going to have short lives.

Sarah said, “I’ve never been able to find the words to describe that time, but I will never forget how alone I felt.”

Molly and Emily both have Rett Syndrome, a very rare genetic disorder that affects the

development of the brain. As the girls’ condition deteriorates, they need more and more care and Sarah has often felt more like a care-worker than a mum.

When they were first referred to Ty Hafan, Sarah was distraught. She said, “I thought they were sending my girls to a place for dying children. But once we got there, everyone was so friendly. I instantly felt like months of worry and isolation were behind me.”

Molly and Emily love their stays at Ty Hafan. They always share a room and they especially love going on days out to the beach. They love having massages in the sensory room and the hydrotherapy pool gives the family a chance to enjoy some fun time together.

Ty Hafan’s Family Support Practitioner, Tracy Hill, also visits the family at home in Haverfordwest. She spends time with Sarah, helping her to cope with the emotional

and practical demands of Molly’s and Emily’s condition. She helped them to get their purpose-built bungalow and recently arranged a special holiday for the family to the Isle of Man.

But this support is only possible thanks to the generosity of our incredible supporters.

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autumn/winter 2015

reaching for fundraising peaksCorporate supporter, Convey Law, has been a fundraising machine over the last four years. The Newport based conveyancing agency has raised almost £150,000 for Ty Hafan through initiatives such as their free legal fee competition, where after making a £10 donation to charity, at the end of their property transaction, the client is entered into a prize draw to win back their basic legal fees in full, and have taken part in a number of our fundraising events, including the Taff Trail Cycle Challenge and Rainbow Run.

Their latest challenge is a big one – 4,478metres high to be exact – with conveyancer Geraint Aubrey aiming to take on the mighty Matterhorn, one

of the highest and most iconic peaks in Europe. He will be backed by Convey Law in the hope to raise over £50,000 for us.

Geraint has already completed the Welsh3Peaks Challenge in preparation for his trip to the top of the Alps and has been training with Cardiff City FC and the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby team to make sure he is in peak physical condition.

We would like to wish Geraint a massive ‘good luck’ for this amazing challenge. If you would like to contribute, Geraint’s fundraising page can be found at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CA-Matterhorn-Challenge.

loyal support from sully friends of ty hafanThe wonderful people at Sully Friends of Ty Hafan have been great supporters of ours since the very beginning. Their latest event, the Sully Friends of Ty Hafan Summer Ball, managed to bring their fundraising total for Ty Hafan to well over £100,000.The Summer Ball, celebrating the group’s 20th anniversary, raised £16,095, with more than 400 guests enjoying an evening’s entertainment in the Ricoh Suite of Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 4 July.

The main prizes of the auction were a week’s stay in apartments in Spain and Portugal, as well as beautiful pebbles decorated by children from Ty Hafan and used as balloon weights for the table decorations.

Friends groups like Sully Friends of Ty Hafan have been some of our most loyal and important supporters and we genuinely wouldn’t exist without them. If you are encouraged to form your own group and fundraise for us, please contact the Business and Community team on 029 2053 2284.

golf benefit helps raise over £20,000 for ty hafanValero Energy Corporation supported us again this year with a golf benefit, held at The Belfry and hosted by sports presenter Steve Rider. 180 keen golfers took part to help contribute to the £36,000 that Valero have raised for Ty Hafan over the past two years.

Valero Vice President and Refinery General Manager Ed Tomp, said, “The Benefit for Children Golf Classic is a prestigious golfing event organised by Valero that aims to raise much needed funds to support children in the communities in which we live and work. This year’s result of over £100,000 for these incredibly deserving charities was an astounding achievement, and the positive impact these donations will have for children across Wales is something we at Valero are very proud of.”

did you know it takes £10,194

per day to provide our care services to families across

Wales?


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what would we do without our

They are so important to our shops, at our warehouse, for our events and as part of our fundraising teams.

Those happy faces you see when you drop off your pre-loved items to one of our 31 shops – quite probably a volunteer. Who is it that spends her afternoons washing and folding bedding in the hospice? – that’s Jenny, our wonderful House Coordinator, a volunteer. And that person who ensures your kind donations in collection boxes are collected, recorded and banked – that would be one of our collection box agents.

Volunteering is for anyone. It is the perfect way to learn new skills or put some old ones to use. All our volunteers are superstars and we couldn’t do without them.

We have some rather unique volunteers too. From Lenny the bearded dragon and Doug the tortoise to Ron, our oldest volunteer at 94 ½ years old.

This year we have had some new faces to add to our list of Superstar volunteers. RRT, or the Rapid Relief Team, is a volunteer not-for-profit organisation that provides help to communities in need, including charities such as Ty Hafan. Their wonderful team have helped at a number of our events over the summer, including the Family Fun Day and Rainbow Run Aberdare. They throw themselves wholeheartedly into

whatever we ask them to do and their enthusiasm is infectious. We are extremely grateful for their help.

RRT Team Leader, Roy Wells, said: “We have an amazing team of people who love to get involved in the community and we always have great fun helping such a worthy cause as Ty Hafan.”

We are always on the lookout for more superstar volunteers to help in many aspects of what we do at Ty Hafan We are immensely proud of those people who give up their precious time to help and we want to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you.

If you are interested in joining our team of superstar volunteers, please contact us on 029 2053 2199 or visit www.tyhafan.org/volunteer.

superstar volunteer recognised with awardSuperstar volunteer, Heather Morris, has been awarded the Good Samaritan award at local radio station Bridge FM’s Local Hero Awards.

Heather volunteers five full days a week in our Bridgend shop and is also a volunteer collection box coordinator, making sure your kind donations are collected and banked. This is on top of volunteering a day a week at Ty Teulu, a training centre for adults with learning difficulties in Tonteg, as well as running Race for Life on four occasions and selling poppies every autumn.

The award ceremony took place at Heronston Hotel & Spa, Bridgend, and was a wonderful night with entertainment from Karis Thomas and Liss Jones, finalists from ‘The Voice’.

Unfortunately Heather had a bit of an accident with her award and it broke, but Bridge FM presenter, Lee Jukes, stopped by the shop and presented her with a new one.

autumn/winter 2015

19

rollover prize

of up to£12,000

weekly

top prize of

£2,000

rollover prize

of up to£12,000

weekly

top prize of

£2,000

raffle sunshine for lucky winnersA massive thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s summer raffle and helped raise over £50,000!

The raffle was drawn at Ty Hafan on 16 July 2015 with the help of our Ambassador, Leigh Halfpenny and Amie Sainsbury whose three-year-old son, Callum, uses Ty Hafan’s services.

Mathew Hurford of Leckwith, Cardiff was the lucky winner of the £3,000 top prize.

Tickets are now available for the 2015 Christmas raffle which will be drawn on 16 December. If you would like to enter and haven’t received tickets, please call 029 2053 2300.

Mathew Hurford of Leckwith, Cardiff,was

the lucky winner of the £3,000

top prize.

Thanks to our wonderful loyal members, the Crackerjackpot lottery continues to provide a steady and reliable source of funds for Ty Hafan.

Every week a lucky player wins £2,000 and 80 other people win cash prizes ranging from £5 to £10.

There’s also a rollover prize that grows by £500 each week and can reach a very exciting £12,000!

Costing just £1 a week to play, the lottery is a great way to support Ty Hafan and the services we provide to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.

If you are not already playing, why not join today by visiting www.lottery.tyhafan.org or by calling us on 029 2053 2300.

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farmers’ union of walesWe had a wonderful day at the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells in July and our friends at the Farmers’ Union of Wales presented us with an incredible cheque for £25,000.

Little Rhydian Verdin and his family enjoyed their day-out at the showground and Rhydian was on-hand to accept the £25,000 cheque from the FUW on our behalf. He also presented the new President with a thank you gift of fantastic wheelchair art made by some of the children at Ty Hafan.

The FUW has been taking part in all sorts of fundraising efforts over the last two years in order to raise £50,000 to share between Ty Hafan and Ty Gobaith, a children’s hospice in Conwy.

There have been some fantastic events held by

FUW staff and friends including participating in the Welsh3Peaks Challenge, an all Wales coastal path walk, a Noson Lawen (the Welsh equivalent of a ceilidh) and a Christmas card design competition for primary schools.

Former FUW president Emyr Jones, who presented the cheques, said: “Having visited the hospices myself, I cannot think of a more worthwhile cause to donate this money to and I wish the hospices all the very best of luck in the future. There is still money coming in, which we will of course also donate to the causes.”

Ty Hafan’s head of business and community fundraising, Alison Stallard, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the fantastic amount that the FUW has tirelessly raised for Ty Hafan.

“This significant amount will make such a difference to children with short lives and their families from across Wales.”

emma and tara's great shaveSisters Emma and Tara chose a rather drastic change of appearance to raise funds for Ty Hafan, swapping their stunning long dark hair for a GI Jane crew cut.

With the help of colleagues at Unite Students in Bristol where Tara works, the day became a bit of an event with cake sales and raffles to help bump up the fundraising total.

Tara said: “My sister and I had both heard of Ty Hafan through various friends, and had heard about the amazing work they do there, so it was at the top of our list for the charity to choose to raise money for from the shave.”

On top of the incredible £2,807.25 raised on their JustGiving page, Unite Students matched up to £750 and £686.67 was raised from the cake and raffles, adding up to a whopping total of £4243.92. They also donated their hair to The Little Princess Trust Charity, another fantastic cause.

Congratulations to two very brave and inspirational sisters.

Find out how your business can build a

partnership with ty hafan at www.tyhafan.org/become-a-partner

before

after

21

autumn/winter 2015

arriving in styleMichael Griffiths, 11, from Bettws, had been looking forward to his first school prom with a little bit of nervousness that is common before such a big life event, but he didn’t realise how much of a memorable experience it would be.

Michael was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at just six weeks old. The disease greatly reduces his mobility in his day to day life and he uses a wheelchair to move around.

While waiting for the coach to take him to his prom, the car-lover received a huge surprise when a stunning black Nissan GT-R sports car came by to pick him and his best friend, Jacob, up instead.

Michael’s father, Barry, described the day as one Michael would never forget. He said: “Michael had been feeling quite nervous about the prom, but he’s over the moon. He was really relaxed by the time

he got there. He had no idea and thought he was going on the coach.”

The moment was three months in the making thanks to Lynne Phelps, the family liaison officer at Ty Hafan who has supported Michael since the age of three, and Wessex Garages.

Barry said: “Everyone’s gone out of their way to help. It was brilliant, really perfect. All the boys loved it."

“We just want to say a massive thank you to everyone.”


22

✂

please help us continue to be there...

I would like to make a single donation of:

Office use only: CWTA15

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Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by Direct Debit. Name and full postal address of your bank or building society. Please fill in this form and send it to: Ty Hafan, Hayes Road, Sully CF64 5XX

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Instruction to your bank or building societyPlease pay Ty Hafan Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with Ty Hafan and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society.

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I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand that Ty Hafan will reclaim 25p on every £1 that I give. This declaration also relates to all donations I have made to Ty Hafan in the past four years and all donations I make hereafter until I notify you otherwise.

Please return this form to Ty Hafan, Hayes Road, Sully, CF64 5XX You can also donate at www.tyhafan.org or by calling 029 2053 2255

1. Your gift to families in Wales

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or

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tŷ hafan cwtch autumn/winter 2015

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