Lovely Laura Martin has been doing her Christmas bit for charity in Swansea’s busy Quadrant Centre this week.
The Bonymaen beauty donned a Santa outfit this Friday to raise money for worthy cause the Joshua Foundation in the Quadrant and the main bus station.
Laura, a finalist in next month’s Miss Swansea competition was shaking her bucket in support of the South Wales-based national charity which provides holidays and special experiences for children with terminal cancer and their families.
Laura, a 21-year-old call centre operative who also works part-time at USC in the Quadrant Centre, said: “It’s a wonderful cause and one that does so much good work.
“These really are heart-rending cases and the children and their families are so brave so I am glad to be able to do something to help them.
“It’s about trying to make dreams come true for these children and the more people give the more children the charity will be able to help.
“The Joshua Foundation is the nominated charity of the Miss Wales event and the current Miss Wales is my best friend, Sara Manchipp, and I’d love to follow in her footsteps to Miss Wales and the Miss World competition.
“Sara is also raising money for the Foundation as Miss Wales and it has helped thousands of children to have memorable experiences from holidays to meetings with their favourite movie and pop stars.”
Laura and Sara have been friends since school days at Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera and both are fluent Welsh speakers.
And Laura has already had a real boost from her call centre employers,Hardy Evans, who have made a £200 donation to the charity.
Alan Wallace, Manager of the Quadrant Shopping Centre, said: “The Joshua Foundation is such a marvellous cause and in the Quadrant here we do try and support as many charities as we can.
“Laura is a lovely, generous person and we hope people dig deep for her and all of us here will be hoping she can take the title next month.”
Laura will be fund-raising on Friday but after Christmas her thoughts will turn to the Miss Swansea event on Saturday, January 14, at the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot Civic Centre.
First though she has to find a special dress for the big night and as soon as she’s slipped out of her Santa outfit she and boyfriend Paul Baker, from Cimla, will be back in the Quadrant.
She said: “I’m not very organised so I have left my shopping late but I need an evening gown for the Miss Swansea final.
“I’ll be doing my last bit of shopping in the Quadrant on Friday and I’m looking for something stylish and elegant for the final.”
Miss Swansea finals night, when the 10 girls have to wear jeans and a Miss Swansea T-shirt, a little black dress and then evening gown, will be held at the ?? on January 14, alongside the finals of Miss Neath/Port Talbot, starting at 7.30pm.
To vote for Laura go to http://missswansea2012.internationalvoting.net/
To vote by telephone…
To vote from a landline phone, please call the number shown and when prompted press the contestants 2 digit number shown below the photograph of the contestant you wish to vote for.
Dial: 0901 293 7902 Then press: 08
Votes cost £1.02. plus network extras
