A team of big hearted trailer makers raised £15,000 for a children’s hospice charity – and had a ball at the same time.
Staff at Ifor Williams Trailers kicked off their fund-raising for the Tŷ Gobaith/Hope House organisation with a series of penalty shoot out competitions for which they built a special trailer.
The charity needs to raise £5 million a year to maintain their vital services for children with life-limiting conditions.
They have two hospices, Hope House near Oswestry and Tŷ Gobaith in the Conwy Valley which is celebrating its 10th anniversary last year.
The charity is currently helping more than 500 families from across North and Mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire
The cheque was presented on behalf of Ifor Williams Trailers by team leader Geraint Jones and production operatives Gareth Evans and Emyr Jones who were given a guided tour of the Tŷ Gobaith hospice.
The first of the shoot outs was held at last year’s Urdd Eisteddfod in Bala and a number of other events were held during the year.
According to Geraint Jones, the visit was a “very humbling experience”.
He added: “It’s fantastic to see the facilities and what they do here. It’s a brilliant place, providing a much needed service.
“I’m proud we have raised money for the hospice It means a lot. I’ve worked at Ifor Williams Trailers for 27 years. We’ve raised an amazing sum and when we do things, we do things right.”
Gareth Evans, whose wife works as a carer at the hospice, had been inside once before when it was officially opened in 2004.
“I am very glad that we raised the money because it’s such a worthwhile charity and they need every penny to keep the services going.”
It was a sentiment echoed by Emyr Jones who said the visit had “hit home” and given him a better understanding of what they did.
He said: “I thought it was going to be more like a hospital and until now I didn’t realise it’s such a homely place. It’s fantastic.
“The location is perfect and the view over the Conwy estuary is stunning. Apart from being struck by the amazing work they do there the location was simply breathtaking and this is something I’m sure is a major part of ensuring the peaceful ambience of the hospice.
“I was particularly moved by the garden we visited outside the Snowflake suite where families can spend precious final time together.
“I wouldn’t be able to do the job, the people who work here are very special. I take my hat off to them because what they do isn’t appreciated enough.”
Tŷ Gobaith senior fund-raiser Eluned Yaxley was “hugely grateful” to Ifor Williams Trailers.
She said: “They pulled out all of the stops once again, and the support we’ve received not just this last year but over the years is truly magnificent.
“Without people and companies like Ifor Williams Trailers we just wouldn’t exist.
“We need every penny. For the two hospices, Hope House in Oswestry and Tŷ Gobaith in Conwy, we need to raise £5 million annually.
“We’re dependent on voluntary contributions to run all of the services we provide.
“Last year for example, we appointed a neonatal nurse. We were sitting side by side with 30 families in North Wales who suffered stillborn births.
“We provided 10,000 hours of our service out in the community last year because a lot of the work now is completed out in the community.
“Tŷ Gobaith celebrated its 10th anniversary last year and Hope House in Oswestry is celebrating a big milestone in Oswestry next year, its 21st birthday.
“It will be another year of celebrating and a very special year but everything we do is only possible because of supporters like Ifor Williams Trailers and everyone else.”
