Ty Olwen

From left Helen Murray, Helen Crocker, Julia Mahoney, Martin and seated Julia’s Mum Muriel.

Ty Olwen volunteer Martin Mahoney, aged 63, from Waunarllwyd has just completed his 11th Cardiff Half Marathon and his 4th in aid of Ty Olwen. Martin who retired from the DVLA three years ago can be found most early mornings at the hospice doing odd jobs and working around the grounds and is a valued member of the volunteer force which contributes so much to daily life at Ty Olwen. This year he dedicated his half marathon run to friend Phil Crocker, who was under the care of the Specialist Palliative Care Team. Martin received great support from family, friends and members at the Cwmfelin Club, Penlan Social Club, as well Paul Kiley and the Wern Inn in Landore where Phil was an leading member of their charity club. Phil’s wife Helen returned to Ty Olwen for the first time today to present the sponsorship money of £1805 raised by the run to Ty Olwen Chairman Helen Murray.

Murton Methodist Church Ladies Guild recently invited our Chairman, Mrs Helen Murray, to speak to them at one of their meetings about the work of the Specialist Palliative Care Service. At the end of the evening a promise was made by the ladies to organise a coffee morning in aid of Ty Olwen.

The Tuesday Coffee Morning Group quickly arranged the event and last Tuesday our young ambassador Kate Murray attended one of their regular meetings to receive a cheque for £500 on behalf of the group from organiser Mrs Elaine Phillips.

The Chairman was delighted to attend  Clyne Golf Club recently to receive a donation of £515 which the Ladies had raised during their Charity Coffee Morning.  Mrs Joan Flaherty, Ladies Captain is pictured presenting the donation to Mrs Helen Murray.  Also pictured is Bar Steward, Lloyd Davies who presented Helen with a personal donation towards the work that Ty Olwen does.

Bethan Powell and Louise Jefferson from the Rising Stars Theatre Company visited Ty Olwen recently to present a cheque for £350.00 which was raised at a Coffee Evening organised at their centre in Carmarthen Road.  They are busy rehearsing for the next show – “McGorky’s Spectacular Circus and the upside down smile” which will be staged at the Pontardawe Arts Centre on November 22nd.

Our thanks go to the pupils at Ynysfach Primary School who held a milkshake and cake sale recently and raised a whopping £165.00 for Ty Olwen Hospice.

Well done to you all.

The volunteers at the Charity Shop at Holy Cross R.C. Church, Gendros have again this year made an enormous donation to Ty Olwen Hospice. Despite raising thousands of pounds for the church and it’s own needs they also show true Christian Charity by holding raffles and cake sales whilst the charity shop is open and this year  raised a further £1630 for Ty Olwen thus beating last year’s donation of £1426! Rosa Simmonds presented the cheque supported by this amazing group of people. The Charity Shop opens on Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s fro 10-00am to 3-00pm.

The Ladies Darts Team of the Traveller’s Well on Carmarthen Rd have presented a cheque for £200 to Ty Olwen on behalf of the Swansea & District Ladies Darts League. They were winners last year of the the Pat James Trophy, a former captain, who was looked after by Ty Olwen. The cheque was presented to Paul Murray, Vice Chairman of the Ty Olwen Trust, by Captain Hilda Taylor who was supported by Vice Captain Carol Cable and team members.

The West Wales Centre of The Caravan Club held a Social Evening at the Gowerton Conservative Club last Saturday and presentations were made to two charities from fundraising events held during the year. Funds were raised by various means including holding a Charity Rally where there were many stalls run by members and a Charity Auction. Two members, John Bennett and Carl Burridge, also undertook a Sponsored Walk up Mt. Kilimanjaro. The charities to benefit from the efforts of the centre were the ‘Halycon Training Foundation’ who support people with Autism and their families and the Ty Olwen Trust. Sadly one of their members, Noel Lloyd, died just twelve months ago in the care of Ty Olwen and although only an inpatient  for a few days his wife Hilary spoke on the evening of the wonderful care that Noel had received and the love and care given to her and her family. Both charities received a cheque for £1080.

Photographed are from the left Jay Allan, Chairman of the West Wales Centre of the Caravan Club, Helen Murray, Chairman of the Ty Olwen Trust, Hilary Lloyd wife of the late Noel Lloyd, John Bennett, Paul Murphy Charity Manager of Halycon and Ffion Burridge representing her father Carl.

This year the Mission Committee of St. Peter’s Church in Pontardawe chose to hold a Coffee Morning in aid of Ty Olwen as one of their many fundraising events. Helen and Paul Murray were delighted to join the church members for their Harvest Festival last Sunday and receive a cheque for £670. Churchwardens Rhian Jones and Sue James made the presentation along with Vicar, Gary Green