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newsletter spring/summer 2017
our news and stories from tyˆ hafan
18 years old thanks to you inside
a tribute to Suzanne Goodall p.3
scamper in the city p.12
mohamed's tyˆ hafan journey p.16
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welcome Welcome to the spring/summer edition of Cwtch. 2017 marks the 18th anniversary of Tyˆ Hafan first opening its doors, following years of hard work by Suzanne Goodall and the people of Wales to raise enough funds. Suzanne’s story is such an inspiring one and without her, the face of children’s palliative care in Wales would look very different today. To take on a project of such magnitude after retirement is testament to her character and drive to achieve what was so needed. We will go into her legacy further in the coming pages, both as a tribute to her life following her sad death earlier this year and a look back at how Tyˆ Hafan has developed over the past 18 years. Tyˆ Hafan has, of course, been a team effort every step of the way. From the individuals who push themselves to the limits and the companies who provide us with their time and fundraising efforts to our volunteers and ambassadors who tirelessly spread the Tyˆ Hafan message, our supporters really are the reason we can continue to be there for the families in Wales that need us. As we look back at the last 18 years, we are genuinely excited for what is still to come. So from everyone associated with Tyˆ Hafan, past, present and future, thank you so much for everything you do.
contents a tribute to our founder and friend, Suzanne Goodall............................02 18 years of being there....................................................................................04 simply a wonderful Tyˆ hafan Christmas time...........................................06 generous diners fork out £150,000.............................................................06 kayden’s story....................................................................................................08 trekking for team tyˆ hafan...............................................................................10 scamper in the city.............................................................................................12 dads’ bare all all year round...........................................................................14 mohamed's tyˆ hafan journey........................................................................16 crackerjackpot in support of tyˆ hafan...........................................................18 leave your mark.................................................................................................19 your amazing support!....................................................................................19 fundraising insurance......................................................................................20 the tyˆ hafan lady...............................................................................................20 take your pick.....................................................................................................20 the incredible journey.......................................................................................21 Kilimanjaro..........................................................................................................22
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
spring/summer 2017
a tribute to our founder and friend,
Suzanne Goodall
On the morning of 10 January 2017, the Tyˆ Hafan family received the incredibly sad news that our founder Suzanne Goodall had passed away at the age of 95. Suzanne was a true inspiration to the staff and families at Tyˆ Hafan. Her dedication and commitment in launching the children’s hospice 18 years ago meant that hundreds of families across Wales have been given a light in the dark while facing the realities of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition.
We will all greatly miss Suzanne’s warmth and determination. Every one of us at the charity will honour her legacy by continuing to do all we can to support families who need us.
Suzanne’s endless motivation to continue providing the best possible care and support to these families never wavered and she has remained a much-loved and highly respected figure throughout the charity.
how Suzanne built t yˆ hafan In 1988, Suzanne Goodall was recently retired and wondering how she would fill her time. Learning about a friend’s experiences volunteering in a children’s hospice in Yorkshire, Suzanne started on a journey that would change her life and those of families in Wales forever. Suzanne discovered that, at that time, there was no children’s hospice in Wales and families with life-limited children were not receiving all of the care they needed. Determined to change this, Suzanne, from Beddau near Pontypridd, spearheaded a fundraising campaign to open a children’s hospice in south Wales.
Thanks to the generosity and kindness of the public, Suzanne’s hard work was rewarded in 1999 when Tyˆ Hafan opened its doors for the very first time. Five years later, the Queen acknowledged this incredible achievement by awarding Suzanne an MBE in her 2004 New Year’s Honours List. Suzanne continued to play an active role in the development of Tyˆ Hafan. She officially retired in 2011 at the age of 90, but remained in regular contact with us and was kept informed about our work. This remarkable lady’s vision and determination has helped hundreds of life-limited children, young people and their families across Wales and will continue to help hundreds more.
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
18 years of being there
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
years of being there
It has been 18 years since Suzanne Goodall’s vision of the first children’s hospice in Wales was finally realised, after 11 years of tireless fundraising. So much has changed since those early days and we will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the families we support. Carol Killa, Tyˆ Hafan's Director of Care, reflects on how the charity has progressed over the past 18 years and the direction we will be moving in going forward. Tyˆ Hafan has cared for over 680 families since opening and has become the most recognised Welsh charity for the people of Wales. I joined Tyˆ Hafan in 2015 and my time here so far has been a whirlwind – getting to understand the way Tyˆ Hafan works, review it against national standards of best practice, but keeping that special Tyˆ Hafan ethos. This is a very special place with really special, well-trained people. We make sure we get the most out of all of our staff and work them to their strengths to build their confidence and do the best job we can for the families. We also work closely with our partner organisations to provide safe care for children with complex needs.
Part of my role involves taking the message out to all our health board partners that Tyˆ Hafan is a fantastic resource for their patients and families to provide that extra care and support during difficult times. But we are not focused on sadness here – we all work hard to help families live life to the full and to help the children develop to be the best that they can be, giving them precious memories to hold onto for a lifetime. We were devastated when our founder Suzanne Goodall passed away in January, particularly as we are celebrating the hospice’s 18th birthday this year. But it is a time to reflect on where we have come from, Suzanne’s ethos and vision that every child should have access to this special level of care. This is something which still drives us today. We are not fazed by the needs of any child and we’ve evolved to become a voice for paediatric palliative care and a voice for children across Wales, not just in our locality.
"together with our partners, we aim to offer a package of care to ensure families are given the ability to make choices about their children’s care"
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spring/summer 2017
Su za nn e G oo da ll
Pr in ce ss D ia na
Our vision for the future is all about increasing accessibility and developing our brilliant community services. This includes our Family Support on-call system, which means that any time something happens to a family, they can call us and our Family Support Practitioners will go straight out to help. We are also working on the hospice at home model, not only offering good family support and access to services, but offering the same services at home as you would receive at the hospice. Together with our partners, we aim to offer a package of care to ensure families are given the ability to make choices about their children’s care. We will do everything we can to continue to provide the comfort, care and support for the families in Wales that need us for as long as they need us. It is only through your support and loyalty that we have been able to lead the way in children’s palliative care, so we thank you for every step of the journey so far and for everything that the future holds.
"it is a time to reflect on where we have come from, Suzanne’s ethos and vision that every child should have access to this special level of care"
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
simply a wonderful t yˆ hafan christmas time At Christmas time, Tˆy Hafan really does come into its own. The hospice is transformed into a winter wonderland, decorated by the fantastic care team and the children and siblings who use our services. There’s always the sound of laughter coming from the play and music rooms and the place is a hive of activity. famous faces drop in
the sith that stole christmas
carols return to the castle
Santa knows how to make an entrance! Families and staff were treated to a spectacular sight as Santa emerged from the clouds in the unmistakable Wales Air Ambulance Service helicopter just before Christmas. Leigh Halfpenny was here to greet Santa and they both thanked our fantastic supporters for everything they’ve done for Tˆy Hafan during 2016. We are delighted that Santa has agreed to join Team Tˆy Hafan by becoming an official Celebrity Ambassador too.
Every Monday and Friday in December, our amazing corporate supporters join staff in putting on a Christmas panto that has to be seen to be believed. This year’s panto, The Sith that Stole Christmas, was no exception. We marvelled at the Fast Parts’ dames, were in awe of Yoda from Companies House and were wowed by the Ewoks of Lloyds Newport, to name just a few.
Cardiff Castle once again provided the spectacular backdrop to our kick start to Christmas event, Carols at the Castle. Building on the success of our first carol concert in 2015, the event was another fantastic evening of festive fa-la-la-la-laing and even the fog didn’t dull the spirits of the nearly 2,000 strong crowd.
Whether it was Leigh Halfpenny and Santa, the Cardiff City and Devils squads or expert Japanese flower arrangers, the hospice was the place to be in December.
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The panto brings such joy to our families and we are so thankful to everyone who takes part in them. From the star turns of our very own Lynne Phelps’ Yoda, Shirley Valentino’s Darth Vader and Gareth Jenkins, the panto fairy, to the writers and our visiting actors – everyone plays their part in making Christmas in the hospice so special.
A special thank you to the event sponsors One Stop and the fantastic choirs and singers, Superchoir, the Bryncoch Male Voice Choir, Mel and Jamie, Ritchie Jones and Russell Jones.
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generous diners fork out £150,000 for t yˆ hafan at chefs’ night out The foodie fundraiser featuring some of the UK’s top chefs raised an incredible £150,000 for life-limited children and their families. Chefs’ Night Out took over the kitchens of St David’s Hotel in Cardiff Bay for an exclusive night of fine food and wine in aid of Tyˆ Hafan. The event’s success brings the total raised by Chefs’ Night Out to more than £500,000 since its inception in 2010. During the evening, each table of diners was treated to a delicious meal cooked by one of the chefs – but they didn’t know who would be cooking for them until service began. In a special twist, the stellar line-up of 15 chefs, including The Hardwick’s Stephen Terry, Coast’s Will Holland and the River Café’s Sian Wyn Owen, offered their culinary services off-menu in an after-dinner auction. Generous diners bid for their favourite chef – with the prize being a dinner party for ten at their own home cooked by the chef at a later date. Tyˆ Hafan is a charity close to the hearts of organisers David Loosemore and Huw Edwards, who started Chefs’ Night Out to raise funds for the children’s hospice and the vital support it provides for life-limited children and their families. David Loosemore said: “Raising £150,000 for such a worthwhile cause as Tyˆ Hafan is both an inspiring and humbling experience. We are so grateful to the generosity of our guests, our chefs and all the helpers involved. The Chefs' Night Out family continues to grow and we hope to host many more dinners in the future.” Huw Edwards added: "We are continually amazed by not only our guests in raising £150,000 for Tyˆ Hafan but also the generosity of the chefs, restaurants and their suppliers in giving both their time and all of their produce and wine for free. It really does make the whole event succeed.” A huge thank you to everyone who made the event happen and to all of our supporters across Wales who without, none of what we do would be possible.
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
kayden’s story
With just weeks to go before his fifth birthday, Kayden Griffiths seems just like any other active little boy, playing with his toys on the floor and giggling mischievously. But, as his mum Lisa knows only too well, his resilient nature hides a multitude of conditions which could threaten his life in the blink of an eye. Kayden was born at 26 weeks in the back of an ambulance near Oxford, hundreds of miles away from home, weighing a tiny 2lb 4oz. “He was the size of a Coca-Cola bottle and his skin was so transparent,” said Lisa. “There was no resuscitation unit on board, no incubator. When we got to the hospital he was rushed straight to special care. It was terrifying.” Starved of oxygen, with a bleed on the brain and numerous complications, Kayden had his first life-saving operation at just seven days old. Just days later, the tiny baby was back in theatre for more surgery. It was the beginning of a traumatic few years for mum and baby. They spent the next two-and-a-half years in three different hospitals, miles away from their home in Merthyr Tydfil. Lisa, who also has two older daughters, aged 11 and 14 at the time, was forced to live apart from her family as Kayden was being treated in hospital. Then doctors told Lisa the unthinkable – there was nothing more they could do for her little boy. “They told me after his second birthday he wouldn’t be here now, but look at him, said Lisa.
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“He’s cheeky, he’s so intelligent it shocks you and he’s determined. No matter what life throws at him he just gets on with it. It doesn’t faze him. He’s a miracle. So we don’t look into the future, we take it one day at a time.” Now living at home in Merthyr Tydfil, life has been difficult for Lisa, who had to give up her painting and decorating business to care for her son. “Kayden needs 24-hour care. He’s got hydrocephalus and is the only child known to have had 48 shunt procedures in the UK. He’s got cerebral palsy, he’s autistic, he’s got chronic lung disease, bowel problems and he’s unable to walk. His hydrocephalus is the big concern because it can kill him in an hour – if he deteriorates I need to get him straight into hospital, to the neurological unit in Cardiff,” she said. “It’s been so hard – financially, emotionally, everything you could think of. My life stopped the day I had Kayden. I’m his nurse 24/7. But he’s also made a positive change because he’s made me look at life so differently. Before I had him, I was so selfish – brand new car, new clothes – and now everything revolves around Kayden.” Hospital staff put the family in touch with Tyˆ Hafan, but after being Kayden’s main carer for so long, it was difficult for Lisa to hand over the reins at first. “When I first went there I was horrified because I didn’t understand why a nurse was following me everywhere. I didn’t realise what was involved –
they’re there to look after your child while you have a break!” laughed Lisa. “Kayden doesn’t sleep because he gets night terrors. One night he had been up all night and I said to the nurses ‘I need to go to bed, I’m not going to be any good for him today’ and they took over which was fantastic. “Now I know I’m safe to leave Kayden with them. When I walk in there now I can say ‘will you watch him? I’m going for a shower’ or ‘I’m going out shopping’ and I can put my faith in them. And Kayden’s happy there, he loves playtime and messy play and meeting new people. He clicked with one little boy and that made my day – I was crying because he played football with him. He can’t even walk but he was on the floor kicking the football and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was absolutely amazing – he didn’t even want to come home. “All the staff are fabulous; I enjoy being around them, you can even have a chat with them, they’re like your friends. I’d tell someone going through the same thing not to be afraid to ask for help. I was and that’s why it got so bad, because I wasn’t coping and I blanked it and went into denial I suppose. “But you have to be open to anything they offer you because Tyˆ Hafan is amazing.”
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"kayden’s happy there, he loves playtime and messy play and meeting new people" 9
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
trekking for team t yˆ hafan This year, we decided to up the stakes a bit and offer our supporters the opportunity of a lifetime and trek the Great Wall of China to raise money for Tyˆ Hafan. This is our very first overseas bespoke challenge and it’s a fantastic one. Our ragtag group of intrepid adventurers will be led by Tyˆ Hafan Regional Fundraiser Emma Sankey and Celebrity Ambassador and rugby star Ian Gough. Ian has been a great sport so far as we have managed to rope him into taking on a starring role in our Christmas panto where he was rather fetching as one of Princess Leia’s ugly sisters! Joining the group will be Gary Footman, 40, from Swansea, who has been supported by Tyˆ Hafan since his daughter Evie received end-of-life care aged just four months. The five-day hike over watchtowers and mountains and through historic battlement stations will see a group of 29 Tyˆ Hafan trekkers conquer the legendary 1,000 steps up to the Wall at Mutianyu. As part of the Great Wall Trek challenge in April 2017, there will also be a chance to lend a hand repairing a section of the Wall currently under reconstruction, securing the trekkers’ own place in the Great Wall of China history. Gary said: “The main inspiration was to honour my daughter Evie. Also, I like a challenge and I have no doubt that this is going to be one. The response from my friends and family when I said I was doing the challenge has been a mixture of support and laughter!”
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Gary and his partner Sian were devastated when their daughter Evie was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition and passed away in January 2013. But the couple remain committed to supporting the charity that helped them in their darkest moments. “My daughter Evie went to Tyˆ Hafan for end-of-life care. This meant that we could spend all the time we had left with her without having to worry about all the other things in life, like cooking and cleaning,” he said. “Also, it is a beautiful place to stay and there is so much to do and so many ways to make memories that would not have been possible if we had stayed in hospital. “It gives you the one thing that you want most at a time like that, time to be with that person, and that is something you cannot put a price on. This is why I am supporting Tyˆ Hafan, so other families in our position have the same opportunity that we had.” Getting his fitness up to scratch is going to be Gary’s first challenge – and has been his New Year Resolution for 2017. “My general level of fitness is not where it is going to need to be for this challenge. I have started back in the gym recently, but for this type of challenge I am going to need to get up to Brecon and get the mountains in my legs so to speak. “I’ll be doing a lot of hiking and will also be doing gym
work. But nothing prepares you better than just getting out there and walking. The beer will need to be cut back and I will be looking at eating small meals frequently rather than a few large meals a day.” But he added all the hard work will be worth it when he completes the challenge. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people but also the scenery and the chance to visit one of the truly remarkable sites in the world. “I am also looking forward to the 1,000 steps temple – though not walking the 1,000 steps!” Tyˆ Hafan volunteer, Daniel Allen, will be using his military background as a good basis when he joins us in China. Daniel said: “I’ve been to the hospice and seen the
work they do; it’s marvellous. Knowing what these children go through motivates me to help. I decided I’d do as much as I can for them. “Having previously worked in the army as an armourer and engineer, I like any challenge and I’ve been all over the world – Italy, Slovakia, Albania, Cyprus, Germany and France – but I’ve never been to China. It’s always been somewhere I’ve wanted to go, especially to see the Great Wall. I’ve always been someone who wants to do something different and this looks like a great challenge. It’s nice to raise money for charity doing something you enjoy as well. We would like to wish all the trekkers good luck on their adventure which takes place from 29 April to 7 May.
virtual trek Taking time out and heading to China to walk the Great Wall may be the dream, but might not be practical for everyone. For our New Year’s Resolution, we wanted to get into the spirit of the China Trek by asking supporters to join us in our Virtual Trek and walking, running or trekking 30 hours in 30 days, the equivalent time that the team will be trekking for along the Great Wall. It was up to you how you tackled the challenge – hiking in the Brecon Beacons, a jog on the treadmill or the odd half marathon – and it proved to be a great way for people to get active while fundraising for Tyˆ Hafan. If you are interested in your own virtual challenge, get in touch with our fundraising team at supporterservices@tyhafan.org to share your ideas and get some fundraising tips!
spring/summer 2017
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cwtch
our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
scamper in the city
Tyˆ Hafan is very excited to have teamed up with Wild in Art to stage Snowdogs: Tails in Wales, the biggest ever mass-participation public art trail in Wales.
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For ten weeks this autumn, a pack of Snowdogs will take over the city’s streets, iconic buildings and open spaces of Cardiff and The Vale of Glamorgan.
We are delighted to announce that Acorns Nurseries has become our official Learning Programme Programme partner for the project.
Standing at 1.5m tall, each of these large fibreglass sculptures will be individually decorated, fixed onto a concrete plinth and transported to their temporary home at a point along the trail for all to enjoy. At the end of the trail, the large Snowdog sculptures will be sold at auction to raise funds for Tyˆ Hafan.
Since 2007, Wild in Art events have been enjoyed by millions of people across the UK, generating a sense of pride and community cohesiveness in their host cities and towns. They have been responsible for countless projects, including Bristol’s Gromit Unleashed, Dundee’s Oor Wullie’s Bucket Trail and Liverpool’s Go Superlambananas.
Local schools, adult learners and community groups will also be invited to sponsor and design a little Snowdog to feature on a mini trail. The pup will be theirs to keep at the end of the event.
For details on how you can get more information on the project, please see the back cover of Cwtch.
spring/summer 2017
why snowdogs: tails in wales? The theme of Snowdogs: Tails in Wales is based on the much-loved novel and animated film, The Snowman™ and The Snowdog, based on characters created by Raymond Briggs. It’s the story of a little boy who is mourning the death of his pet dog and is comforted when the Snowman and Snowdog he builds mysteriously come to life and take him on a magical adventure. We were particularly drawn to the themes of dealing with loss and friendship in The Snowman™ and The Snowdog, which relate to the support we offer at our hospice in Sully and in communities across Wales.
Through our Snowdogs: Tails in Wales trail, we aim to get friends and family and local businesses engaged in a fun activity that gets them out in the open air, exploring their city and making their own precious memories along the route. For more information on the project or to get involved, visit www.snowdogstailsin.wales. We look forward to seeing you out and about this autumn!
At Tyˆ Hafan, we do everything in our power to make sure that a short life is a full life. Our care team works extremely hard to relieve the pressures of 24/7 care from parents so they can spend quality time with their children, creating special memories that last a lifetime.
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan 029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
dads’ bare all all year round Forget Furby Connect or Pokémon, the must have Christmas gift of 2016 was undoubtedly our #DadsBareAll calendar! This is a fun calendar with a serious message, one that means a lot to the dads who use Tyˆ Hafan’s services, and shows that despite remaining strong on the outside, there is vulnerability there too.
deeper meaning the project had for all the dads involved. They are not only baring all physically, but also bearing the truth of what it’s like to have a child with a life-limiting condition and how it feels to lose a child.
The calendar began from a conversation between Gareth Jenkins, Tyˆ Hafan’s Male Family Support Worker, and one of our dads, Paul Fears, who was also the photographer on the project.
“When I told the dads about the concept for the calendar, I was taken aback by how many wanted to be involved and were happy to literally bare all,” Gareth said. “I think it really highlighted how amazing our families are and how willing they are to help support the hospice.
Gareth said: “It was a project that we both wanted to do but it was finding the right concept that was important. “Dads are often expected to remain strong for the rest of the family, but this calendar shows that behind their tough exterior, they feel vulnerable too.” As well as raising a few smiles, it was important that the calendar showed the
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“I am extremely proud of how the calendar has turned out and the efforts of all involved, especially Paul and Josh (the designer), who gave up their services and time completely free of charge. Both of them bared all too which really showed how important this project was to us all.
“Through this calendar, we hope that you not only have a smile (and a laugh) on your face looking at our pictures, but also a better understanding of what it’s like for our dads facing the heartbreaking reality that their child may not reach adulthood.” All proceeds from the calendar supports Tyˆ Hafan’s work with life-limited children, young people and their families from across Wales. There are still some copies left and you can pick them up from one of our 31 shops across Wales or online by visiting tyhafanshop.org.
spring/summer 2017
“dads are often expected to remain strong for the rest of the family, but this calendar shows that behind their tough exterior, they feel vulnerable too�
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"i have had so much fun, but I look at my past and it’s gone so fast. I feel like my first visit was today and not my last"
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
spring/summer 2017
mohamed's tyˆ hafan journey If the past 18 years has taught us anything, it’s that life is a journey. This year, 18-year-old Mohamed Sultan says goodbye to Tyˆ Hafan on his last visit after 11 years of good times and friendship at the hospice, as he transitions to adult care services. Here, Mo tells us in his own words about his time at Tyˆ Hafan. The first time I came to Tyˆ Hafan I was a bit shy, but all the staff gave me so much love and attention. Some are old, some are new, but they have something special to give to everyone. I have been coming here for a long time. I had a break for a while but I missed the lovely, homely, warm place. So I decided to come back, and then the fun started again. It was like I had never been away. It’s like my second home. It is so sad to leave, but I will remember you all from the bottom of my heart, and you’d better remember me shouting through the white walls of Tyˆ Hafan! My hand print will always be there on the wall, so that the younger generation can see that I was here and I had fun! Future children – don’t be scared and nervous – but if you are feeling that way, look at the handprints and pictures on the wall, listen to stories about the children who have been here and feel the love that is everywhere.
Every time that I come, the staff go ballistic as they are happy to see me. If this is your first time, don’t worry, you will get used to them! Some of my friends that used to come here have passed away. But I will remember them and hope they rest in peace. I have been coming here through the seasons and I remember them all. I look at the sky and I think what season it will be when I’m coming back to my second home. The last time I came to the crazy hot place it was warm but you could feel the smooth, gentle, cool air, which made me feel like I was in heaven. I have had so much fun, but I look at my past and it’s gone so fast. I feel like my first visit was today and not my last.
make you feel like their son/daughter. They make you happy inside and they do everything to make you feel like a prince – not that I think I’m one – they do everything for you to make time here special. Just say the magic word – that’s ‘please’! My journey here has come to an end and I don’t have anything to give to the loving staff but if I had lots of hearts I would give them to each one of you. I am raising money with Gareth to say thank you to all who work in Tyˆ Hafan, so I can give something to the children of the future.
Thanks – peace out, Mo
I think I will be remembered all the time, and I hope so! The thing that is so special about Tyˆ Hafan is they
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan 029 2053 2199
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in support of t yˆ hafan Our fantastic Crackerjackpot players support Tyˆ Hafan and at the same time enjoy the fun of a weekly lottery. Each week, one lucky winner gets a call from us to tell them that they have won the £2,000 top prize. There are also another 81 guaranteed prizes up for grabs every single week. And that’s not all! The weekly draw also includes a £500 rollover. If the rollover isn’t won, then it increases by another £500 the following week. When the total reaches £12,000 it becomes a guaranteed prize and there will be one very lucky winner. But there is much more to the lottery than that. Every one of our lottery players helps to raise over £2m every year to support Tyˆ Hafan. These funds are vital to keep the hospice running. Without
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these players and the money that they contribute, it would make supporting lifelimited children and their families almost impossible. The most recent winner of the £12,000 rollover prize was Mrs Joyce Davies from Gorseinon. Joyce has been playing for two years and said “I never thought about winning, I just play to support the kids!” As you can see, by playing the Crackerjackpot lottery you can help Tyˆ Hafan and enjoy the fun of the weekly lottery draw! How You Can Help It costs just £1 to play the Crackerjackpot lottery and you can join by calling 029 2053 2300 or you can join online at www.lottery.tyhafan.org/.
You can also help in other ways too. Lots of lottery members are only able to play with cash. This means we need to knock lots of doors to collect play subscriptions. We really need your help to do this. If you’d like to work for Crackerjackpot and speak to our lovely supporters, whether it’s full-time, part-time or self-employed in your spare time, we’d love to hear from you. Even if you’d just like to volunteer and collect a few streets near you, we’d love your help! We also need more members and we are looking for Membership Officers to help us achieve this. We currently have a vacancy for a full-time, employed role as well as self-employed positions. In the meantime, look out for our little green cars!
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your amazing support!
your donations help make a short life a full life
We want to say thank you so much to everyone who donated to our Christmas Appeal. We had such a fantastic response, and thanks to you we raised an incredible £29,082! We would also like to say thank you for the overwhelming messages of support you sent back on the Christmas tree decorations. They went up on the hospice Christmas trees for families, staff and visitors to read and they brought lots of smiles to people’s faces. Your donations mean we can continue to support life-limited children and families like Eleri’s all across Wales. Keri and Mike, Eleri’s parents, kindly shared their story and explained that with Tyˆ Hafan’s wonderful support they were no longer trying to cope alone. Eleri has Type 2 Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a very rare condition that affects the ability of the spinal cord to send messages to the muscles. In addition to needing a wheelchair, SMA means that Eleri needs help with her breathing and simple things
like coughing are potentially life threatening. Before the family found Tyˆ Hafan, Eleri was feeling quite alone approaching her teenage years with her condition, and Keri and Mike were truly exhausted. After struggling for so long alone they now have short breaks at Tyˆ Hafan where Mike and Keri can relax, knowing that Eleri is cared for while socialising with people her own age who also understand what it’s like to have a life-limiting condition. Keri told us that “turning to Tyˆ Hafan was the best thing we ever did”. Thanks to your generosity, we can continue to support families in Wales, like Eleri’s, and help them not to feel so alone.
thank you.
leave your mark
we can all leave our mark on the world, no matter how long we live
Our founder Suzanne Goodall has left her lasting legacy to everyone at Tyˆ Hafan. Her dedication and commitment in launching the children’s hospice 18 years ago meant that hundreds of families across Wales have been given a light in the dark while facing the realities of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition. Everyone at the charity will honour Suzanne’s legacy by continuing to do all we can to support families who need us. Like Suzanne, all of the children supported by Tyˆ Hafan will leave their priceless mark on the world.
There is a special way that you can leave your mark too, by leaving us a gift in your Will. We know that including a gift to Tyˆ 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 legacy@tyhafan.org.
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan
fundraising insurance
www.tyhafan.org
take your pick John Rees is no stranger to fundraising. He’s a keen supporter of Tyˆ Hafan and Velindre.
The Team of Swinton Insurance Cardiff took part in and arranged a sponsored 12 mile walk from their office in Albany Road to the hospice in Sully.
He’s so keen that he commissioned his own set of ‘Take Your Pick’ boxes for game show nights, which he even loans out to those wishing to raise money for charity.
Deepa Singh said: “We chose Tyˆ Hafan because my team and I believe what Tyˆ Hafan does for the families and their children is amazing. It’s also a Welsh organisation which means a lot to us. We started off at 12pm with lots of energy, got to the hospice at 5pm with no energy left and all had a few blisters. However, it was definitely worth it. We walked through Cardiff, got to see some amazing scenery and met up with some of the staff at the hospice. We managed to raise £597 from sponsorship from our friends, family, colleagues and customers.”
On 3 December, John held a ‘Take Your Pick’ game show night in aid of Tyˆ Hafan, which raised £650. The event, which included a game show with fantastic prizes and live music, was great fun for those who went to the Bettws Community Club.
the t yˆ hafan lady Glennys Old has been a bit of a hero to everyone at Tyˆ Hafan for a long time now, having started fundraising for us back in 2000. Glennys said: “People often ask me ‘are you the lady from Tyˆ Hafan’ and I say yes. I’m known as the Tyˆ Hafan lady.” Her neighbours, friends and family love to donate her all sorts of things, from cakes to books and everything in between, and Glennys sets up a table or two outside her front door to sell to people who drop by. And by running tea and coffee mornings too, she has now raised over an astonishing £27,000 for the charity. Glennis said: “I support Tyˆ Hafan because it’s children. I feel for the families and I think they need the support. I went through a bad time when my husband was ill for only two months and he died. Some good advice I was given was “don’t say no to nothing”, so I picked myself up and I’ve really enjoyed it. I love company, I love people”. Her neighbours love her too and will help out by lending tables, cups and saucers and washing up afterwards too. Wendy Collie, former Regional Fundraising Manager at Tyˆ Hafan, said: “I’ve got a message for Glennys on behalf
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029 2053 2199
"people often ask me ‘are you the lady from tˆy hafan’ and I say yes. I’m known as the tˆy hafan lady"
of the families we support at Tyˆ Hafan, and everybody who is involved - Glennys, thank you so so much for all your help and your continued support. You are an absolute inspiration and we love you dearly. Thank you.” We think you’ll agree that Glennys is a true inspiration. Her story shows you don’t need to climb a mountain or jump out of a plane to raise money to help life-limited children and their families (unless you want to!). Just do what you do best, like Glennys. Every pound raised by our amazing supporters makes a short life a full life.
spring/summer 2017
the incredible journey Like us, The Peekaboo Trust really does believe that fundraising is for anyone. The charity encourages fundraising throughout the world of pedigree dogs and back in September, their Pedigree Paws Unite saw dog owners, breeders, judges and dog show exhibitors take part in a ground-breaking series of sponsored walks totalling 160 miles. Their aim was to raise awareness and promote every recognised pedigree dog breed in the UK and they managed to raise a staggering £70,000 for seven charities across the UK including £10,000 for Tyˆ Hafan. Dogs from all 216 Kennel Club (UK) recognised breeds took part – from Chihuahuas to Irish Wolfhounds and Cocker Spaniels to St Bernards – each walking a minimum of five miles. The Welsh part of the walk covered the canal paths leading all the way from Pontypool right up to Brecon. Everyone at the hospice fell in love with Freddo and Viola from Bridgend who
stopped by the hospice with Tyˆ Hafan supporter, Kim Slater, to drop in a cheque following their walk. Kim said: “Being from South Wales, we were delighted that our local charity, Tyˆ Hafan, was selected and we received such great support with our fundraising efforts from owners of our breed of dog all over the world who were able to donate via Freddo's 'Just Giving' page.
to hear the story of the founder and the determination she had to make her dream a reality. To witness the attention to detail throughout the unit and the uplifting atmosphere created, was something that will long live in our memories.” A huge thank you to everyone involved in this fantastic event.
We were so proud to present the cheque and introduce our rare breed dogs to the wonderful staff and children at the hospice. To be given an insight into the incredible work that Tyˆ Hafan do was very special. It was extremely humbling
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our news and stories from t yˆ hafan 029 2053 2199
www.tyhafan.org
kilimanjaro
Father and daughter team climb to top of a continent for Tyˆ Hafan.
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We say it all the time, but that’s only because of how important our supporters are – Tyˆ Hafan really couldn’t happen without your generosity! It becomes more and more obvious with each edition of Cwtch that people are willing to go to any length to support the charity and we couldn’t be more grateful.
Standing at 5,895 metres above sea level, the majestic dormant volcano in Tanzania dominates the east African landscape. It represents a significant challenge as the high altitude can make acclimatisation very difficult. In fact, only about 60% of those who attempt the trek actually summit the mountain.
Father and daughter team, Ian and Jasmine Spence, wanted to raise funds for Tyˆ Hafan by giving themselves the challenge of a lifetime, one that they would savour and, in Jasmine’s words “would bring people together and really show off the raw and honest reason why the charity deserves so much”. They chose to climb Kilimanjaro, one of the world’s highest free standing mountains and the highest mountain in Africa.
Not to be put off, Jasmine and Ian, with his military background, set about on an epic training schedule that included filling up rucksacks with weights and walking on high inclines and stepping machines at their local gym, hiking up local Welsh mountains and taking on the gruelling Three Peaks of Ben Nevis, standing 1,346m above sea level, Scafell at 978m and finally finishing with Snowdon at 1,085m.
After her visit to the hospice, Jasmine said: “My visit to the Hospice reminded me that we are so distracted by the unimportant 'problems' in our lives that we forget the overwhelming love and compassion that we can offer. “It’s incredibly heart-warming the amount of detail that the staff and volunteers put in ensuring that not only the children are taken care of but also their families. Mum and dad can have a well-deserved break whilst siblings and friends can play freely from the comfort of their own bedrooms, the large specially modified playground or the den for the teenagers.” Jasmine and Ian’s trek took place on 12 – 20 October 2016 and they did amazingly.
Their hard work and determination in training for this adventure, as well as organising several other events including an evening of music at Buffalo Bar in Cardiff, has meant that they have raised over £5,000 for Tyˆ Hafan.
✂
please help us make a short life a full life... 1. Y our gift I would like to make to families single donation of: in Wales
£15
£25
or I would like to make a regular donation of:
£50 Other
£5
£10
£15
Other £
I would like to make my donation on:
£
Office use only: CWTS17
2. Your payment
a
5th of every month
I have enclosed cash / a cheque / CAF voucher (delete as appropriate) made payable to Tyˆ Hafan. I would like to pay by credit / debit card Debit my Mastercard / Visa / Debit
Cardholder’s Name
23rd of every month
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: Tyˆ Hafan, Hayes Road, Sully CF64 5XX Service User Number
Address of Cardholder (if different to below)
2 To: The Manager
4
9
5
0
0
Bank/Building Society
Address
Card Number
Postcode
Expiry Date
Security No (Last 3 digits on reverse of card) Name(s) of account holder(s)
/ Issue Date
Debit cards only - Issue No
Bank/Building Society account number
Branch Sort Code
/ Signature(s)
Reference
Date
Instruction to your bank or building society Please pay Tyˆ 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 Tyˆ Hafan and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society. Date
Signature(s)
Banks and building societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.
3. Your details
Your details Title
Forename
Surname
Address Tel
4. Increase your donation
Postcode D.O.B.
I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. This declaration also relates to all donations I have made to Tˆy Hafan in the past four years and all donations I make hereafter until I notify you otherwise.
Please return this form to Tyˆ Hafan, Hayes Road, Sully, CF64 5XX You can also donate at www.tyhafan.org or by calling 029 2053 2255
Be part of our scamper in the city General Information and Artists Helen Gibbons Snowdogs: Tails in Wales Project Manager snowdogs@tyhafan.org 07711 342086
Sponsorship Opportunities
Learners Programme
Sara Webber Snowdogs: Tails in Wales Project Director
Hannah Williams Snowdogs: Tails in Wales Learning Programme Lead
snowdogs@tyhafan.org 07791 054162
snowdogs@tyhafan.org 07814 140892
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