A mum has been inspired to help raise money on Friday for an “magical” special school where her teenage daughter is a pupil.
Jackie Owen is grateful for the care and devotion shown to her daughter, Llinos, 17, at Ysgol y Bont in Llangefni which she describes as an inspirational place.
Llinos is currently waiting for an operation to insert a rod to straighten her curved spine caused by a painful condition called scoliosis. She also has epilepsy and has ataxia, a neurological disorder that affects balance, coordination and speech.
A charity auction is being organised at the Trearddur Bay Hotel on October 19 to raise money for an outdoor play area at the new £8.5 million school that’s being built nearby.
Anglesey-born TV auctioneer Andrew Roberts, who now lives in Yorkshire, will be coming home to do the honours on the night.
Among the companies to have already pledged to support the event is Gaerwen-based Peninsula Home Improvements.
Peninsula, for the second year running, started the ball rolling by donating a voucher to the value of £1,000 which can be spent on any of their products.
The main organiser is one of the other mums, Donna Calveley.
Jackie, of Llanfachraeth, said: “We hope the amount of money raised will exceed the staggering £14,000 total raised at the first auction held last year. It will certainly make a difference to all the children who attend Ysgol y Bont.
“Llinos has been at the school since she was 11 and will stay until she is 19 when, hopefully, she can go onto college.
“She is always happy, despite her problems, and she really enjoys going to Ysgol y Bont. She has a number of physical disabilities including scoliosis, epilepsy and ataxia.
“We are currently waiting for a date for her to have an operation, at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, on her spine which will mean having a rod inserted into her back to help her scoliosis.
“The condition, which means her spine is ‘S’ shaped, is getting worse and is causing her terrible pain. She has to take huge doses of pain relief drugs yet remains such a happy girl who loves her time at Ysgol y Bont.”
The former care assistant added: “It’s distressing because the operation on her back has been cancelled three times. The most recent cancellation was due to the fact she had a chest infection.
“We are just waiting for a new date which will hopefully mean she will be in less pain.”
“Ysgol y Bont really is an inspirational school and a magical place. The children are always so happy and clearly enjoy and are nurtured by the environment.
“We are all looking forward to the school moving to new premises. The plans were that the new school would be ready by August but delays in the building programme mean it is more likely to be next Easter before the move can take place.”
Single mum Jackie, says her daughter Llinos, who has three sisters, Llio, 19, Cari, eight and Ella, seven, has thoroughly enjoyed her time at Ysgol y Bont.
Lorraine Grayson, a director of Peninsula says she and her husband, Managing Director Ken Grayson, were delighted to once again be able to help out.
She said: “Ysgol y Bont is a fantastic school that provides a wonderful education for some very special children.
“The difference they have made to so many young lives, including Llinos Owen, is remarkable and quite simply, inspiring.
“There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs at the auction thanks to the generosity of so many local firms. We hope people will make some really generous bids.
“To raise £14,000 last year was an incredible effort and lets hope the event raises even more this year.”
Jackie added: “I think Donna Calveley, who organises the auction, does a wonderful job. To have an outside play area is really important and I know all school staff and parents are behind the whole auction event.
“Local businesses have been very generous and for Peninsula Windows to offer an auction lot worth £1,000 is just amazing.”
It’s the second year running that Donna Calveley, whose son is also a pupil at Ysgol y Bont, has organised the auction event.
Donna said: “Last year we raised £14,000 which was just an extraordinary amount of money. The money was used to buy iPads and other IT equipment for the school.
“This year we want to fund an outdoor play area at the new school site as I understand there are no funds available to provide a special play area at the new school site.
“I cannot believe how generous local businesses, and the Anglesey community, have been, it’s heart-warming and we are so grateful.”
Donna and her husband, Richard, who runs a plumbing and bathroom distribution business, say the school is such a happy place and pupils, despite the difficulties they face, are an inspiration.
She said: “You only have to walk into the school and you are struck by how happy everyone is. It’s a special place and we just want to support the school in any way we can. It has become a big part of our lives.
“We only have a couple of tickets left to sell, they are £45 each and that includes champagne and canapés on arrival plus a three course dinner and entertainment. We are so grateful to Mon FM who are providing the music free of charge.
“On top of the amazing prize from Peninsula Windows we again have a signed Manchester United shirt, tickets for a game and a host of other prizes all donated by local and national businesses.”
