A big hearted North Wales toddler who wanted to thank hospital staff after his operation, is the star of a new documentary series.
Six-year-old Eben Pierce from Nantglyn, Denbigh, decided he would organize a coffee morning to raise money for Ysbyty Glan Clwyd who operated on his knee after he accidentally knelt on a sewing needle which broke off inside him.
His coffee morning was Y Diwrnod Mawr My Big Day), one of a series of fascinating stories which are the subject of a new documentary series about young children.
The S4C series follows important days in their lives and where the stars are the pre-school children themselves.
The second series, Y Diwrnod Mawr 2, part of the Cyw children’s service on S4C, starts its screening with Eben’s story on Monday, April 25, and has already been shortlisted for four top national and international TV awards.
“The programmes chart the lives of the children as they prepare for an event. We get to know the children as we follow them over a period of time,” said producer Nia Ceidiog of Ceidiog Cyf.
“The series has been shot and edited the same way as we do any other documentary with the story told from each child’s perspective and in their own words.”
Eben, from Bryn Amel, Nantglyn, was playing with his toy tractor when accidentally knelt on a sewing needle which snapped off in his knee.
His mum Meryl said: “He was out of his mind in pain but we could not see anything because the needle had snapped off.
“We took him to hospital where they found the problem after an X-ray and carried out an operation under general anaesthetic.
“He stayed in overnight. When he first came to and was in bed he looked for something to read and found there were some but not many Welsh language books. He wanted to say thank you to the staff for being so kind to him and he thought he would like to raise money to buy Welsh language books for the children’s ward.”
Eben, a pupil at Ysgol Pant Pastynog in Prion, decided on a coffee morning. The programme follows him with his pony training at the local pony club, joining his haulage contractor dad, Alun, on his truck and helping mum make fairy cakes for the coffee morning.
“It was a lovely experience for us as a family,” said Meryl. “Eben invited family, friends and neighbours to the coffee morning and we had about 50 here. We had raffles and games, we really enjoyed it and at the end we had raised £400.
“Eben has been to buy the books in Denbigh and we will take them to the hospital over Easter. Some of the money is going to the cancer unit.
Other stories in the series include four-year-old Marek Huws Tyburski from Pentrefoelas whose Big Day is flying to Poland with his Polish mum Ewa and dad Rhydian Huws, to meet his grandparents.
Rugby fan Dylan Menzies, 4,from Llangollen, is filmed with Welsh mum, Wrexham GP Llinos, and Scottish dad, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd consultant, Daniel, and brother Osian, two and a half, travelling to Murrayfield for his Big Day to watch the Six Nations clash between Scotland and Wales.
And Cari Davies, a four-year-old from Llanrwst, gets her Big Day dressing up as Cyw, the mascot chick of the S4C children’s programmes, for her acting and singing debut for a St David’s Day school production.
Siân Eirian, Head of S4C’s Children’s Services said: “This original and innovative new series offers a fascinating insight into the lives of youngsters across Wales.
“It captures a range of magical moments and is a popular part of the Cyw service.”
“I would love to hear from parents of pre-school children with stories about their big day so we can include them on Cyw’s website – www.s4c.co.uk/cyw.”
The series starts at 7.50am on April 25 and is repeated Saturday at 7.20am.
