Two charities are to get a cash boost thanks to Swansea residents who generously raised thousands of pounds for the Lord Mayor’s charity fund.
Swansea’s Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress for 2008/2009, Cllr Gareth Sullivan and his wife Carol, chose Maggie’s South West Wales Cancer Caring Centre and the Swansea and Lliw Valley Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society to benefit from the fund.
Fundraising and donations raised just over £45,000 during their year of office and the money will this week be shared between the two good causes.
Cllr Sullivan chose Maggie’s Continuing Care Centre at Singleton Hospital because his wife Carol was diagnosed with breast cancer just before the couple took over as Deputy Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
She has now been successfully treated but the vital work of Maggie’s left a lasting impression on the family.
Llangyfelach ward member Cllr Sullivan said: “When Carol was diagnosed we received excellent treatment and tremendous support from all the teams at Singleton Hospital and Breast Care Wales.
“It seemed fitting to choose the Maggie’s Continuing Care Centre because of the work it does for Swansea patients who find themselves fighting cancer.
“Coupled with the tremendous support we had from family and friends, these services got us through a very difficult time.”
The other charity the couple chose was also close to their hearts.
Cllr Sullivan said: “We chose the Alzheimer’s centre at Garngoch hospital, because a friend of mine- a brilliant science scholar- was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at the age of 51 and sadly died four years ago.”
“My wife and I have been amazed at the level of physical and financial support we have received in achieving this fantastic fundraising total.
“We wish to thank family, friends, individuals, businesses and voluntary organisations for their generosity, particularly in the current economic climate.”
Vicki Jones, Community Fundraiser for Maggie’s South West Wales, said:”On behalf of Maggie’s South West Wales, I would like to sincerely thank Gareth and Carol for choosing to support Maggie’s during Gareth’s term as Lord Mayor.
“Both Gareth, Carol and members of the community have worked so hard in order to donate this amount of money.
“2010 will be a wonderful year for Maggie’s as we go on site in the Spring and hope to open the doors to our new centre in March next year.
“This donation will help keep the interim centre running in the meantime and to develop the programme further for the future.”
Keith Jeavons, Hon.Branch and Fundraising Committee Chairman at Swansea Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Everyone at the Swansea Branch of the Alzheimer’s Society was overwhelmed when Cllr Gareth Sullivan made us one of his two Charities of the Year for his term of Office as the Lord Mayor.
“On behalf of all of the people with Dementia, their carers, the staff and volunteers at the Lodge in Garngoch Hospital where we are based, I wish to thank Cllr and Mrs Carol Sullivan most sincerely for this incredible donation and for their help and support to us.
“In Wales there are 37,000 people with Dementia and nearly 3,000 in Swansea alone. These monies will be spent in the City and County of Swansea area and will go towards the continued provision of some 16 services, the expansion of these services and the addition of new ones from Garngoch.”
