A choir will burst into song to help a bereaved mum raise money for the hospital that treated her daughter who died tragically young aged just 40.
Cantorion Porth-yr-Aur are organising a concert sponsored by the Pendine Park care organisation to raise funds for the Renal Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital at Theatr Seilo, Caernarfon, at 7:30pm on Wednesday July 29.
Elliw Llwyd Owen, 40, the daughter of choir member Iola Lloyd Owen and her husband Geraint, had been receiving dialysis at the Renal Unit for eight years after her kidneys failed.
Sadly, she passed away in February after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Iola, who has two other daughters, Ffion, 42, and Awen, 36, and ran the Welsh shop, Siop y Pentan, in Caernarfon for 15 years before she retired, said: “The dialysis kept Elliw alive for eight years longer that she would have otherwise.
“Dialysis drains fluid from the body, purifies it, and then puts it back. It costs a lot of money – thousands of pounds.
“Her condition deteriorated as the years went by. It made her very tired and that meant she was at home a lot of the time because she couldn’t go out like everyone else. She couldn’t go out with her friends. It was a very difficult situation for her. She also had diabetes.
“She went for dialysis at the Renal unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd three times a week and it would take four or five hour at a time.
“Her personality was very lively before she got ill. Singing meant a lot to Elliw. She won competitions at the Urdd Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod. She sang with two choirs and was in a rock band called Ap Ted.
“She was a teaching assistant with children who have special needs at Ysgol Syr Huw Owen school. She absolutely loved that job.”
The Cantorion Porth-yr-Aur choir was formed two years ago to compete in the National Eisteddfod in Denbigh.
The evening will include performances by four different choirs, soloists, instrumentalists and dancers.
All the participants will be competing at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod in Powys the following week.
Cantorion Porth-yr-Aur chairman Sam Davies, 64, is an information officer at Pendine Park’s recruitment and information office, Siop Gofal, in High Street in the town centre.
The shop was set up because Pendine Park is creating 100 jobs at £7 million centre of excellence for dementia care at the site of the former Bryn Seiont community hospital.
Construction work is on track and Canolfan Gofal Bryn Seiont (Bryn Seiont Care Centre) is due to open in September this year.
Sam said: “This concert will hopefully demonstrate our Welsh-language culture at its very best.
“We want to raise as much money as possible for the Renal Unit. It’s an important cause because at Ysbyty Gwynedd they give a local service to people who are suffering. It’s something that the patients really appreciate.
“We will be competing in this year`s National Eisteddfod in Meifod in the 60 plus age group so this concert is a bit of a warm up for that.
“The £250 donation from Pendine Park will cover the cost of putting the concert together. For example things like renting the theatre and buying adverts. That makes a huge difference because it means that every penny we raise will go straight to the Renal Unit.
“I share information about the Bryn Seiont development. I liaise with people who are going for jobs with the firm. It’s creating 100 jobs which is a great boost for the local economy.
“There is a lot of interest being shown in the facility. There is a need for the facility as well because as a population we’re living longer and that means more people need to be cared for.”
Pendine Park spokesman Gwynfor Jones added: “We’re delighted to sponsor the concert being organised by Cantorion Porth-yr-Aur.
“I was touched to hear about how the Renal Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd helped Iola’s daughter Elliw before she tragically passed away, and it’s incredibly important that the unit receives the support it deserves.
“I’m sure it will be a fantastic evening of Welsh culture and I’m very much looking forward to it.”
