A community came together to show love to a hospice and raise more than £3,000 to help keep it going.
The charity night at Theatr Twm o’r Nant, in Denbigh, was the latest in a series of events in aid of good causes organised by a group of businesspeople in the area.
This time they were raising money for St Kentigern Hospice, in St Asaph.
The sell-out St Valentine’s Day screening of the classic film, Shakespeare in Love, at Theatr Twm o’r Nant in Denbigh brought the total amassed by the group to more than £12,000.
Previous recipients have also included the Wales Air Ambulance and the National Eisteddfod of Wales when it came to Denbigh.
The main driving force behind the charity events is Mario Kreft MBE, the owner of the award-winning care organisation, Pendine Park, who lives in the town, and they’re organised in conjunction with Denbigh Film Club.
Other businesses who support the fundraisers include Denbigh Chocolate Shop, Homewood Bound Collections, in Rhewl, near Ruthin; EWS printers, in Buckley, and PR firm Ceidiog Communication.
On the night, the Con Amici Italian Bar and Kitchen provided canapés and sparkling wine for the occasion while Denbigh branch of HSBC bank have agreed to match fund the proceeds.
Before the film was shown, entertainment was provided by singers Erin Swyn Williams, 10, from Llannefydd , and accountant Ceri Wyn Williams, from Denbigh, along with the talented young pianist, Julian Gonzalez, 14, from Carrog, near Corwen.
St Kentigern is an eight-bed in patient hospice with day care facilities provides unparalleled care for those with life-threatening and terminal illness, but has to rely on 80 per cent of its income from the generous donations of the public.
Hospice Chair Trefor Jones CVO CBE praised the people of Denbigh for being at the forefront of their fundraising efforts.
He said: “I am delighted to be here tonight to thank people in person for helping us to raise money for the hospice.
“It underlines how important the hospice is to the whole community. We’ve had an interesting time in the last few years and we’re now in a good place in the sense that we have managed to accumulate prudent reserves.
“We’ve re-established the hospice in a very good way. The bedded unit is performing extremely well and is very busy and at the same time we’ve improved our day care facilities and the team leading that is an absolutely first class one.”
Mario Kreft was delighted the latest fundraiser had been such a success.
He said: “The hospice provides an absolutely vital service to the community so they really do deserve our support and our love.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Mark Young, from Denbigh Chocolate Shop.
Mark said: “The turnout tonight has been amazing. This is our fourth event and we will have raised more than £12,000 between them for good causes.”
Ceidiog Hughes, the Managing Director of Ceidiog Communication, added: “The hospice is a fantastic place. Whenever you go there you get a warm feeling. The staff are brilliant – you can sense the love in the place.”
Edwina Stephen, the secretary of Denbigh Film Club, is also a volunteer with the hospice.
She explained: “I think the hospice just the right place to be for the last days of your life. A general hospital has far too much going on. It’s not quiet and peaceful.
“It’s a traumatic time for the family and the patient and everybody at the hospice is just so supportive and they do everything within their capabilities to make it as painless as possible.”
