Former Welsh Woman of the Year, Dr Olwen Williams OBE, has officially stepped down from her position as chair of the NSPCC’s Building Brighter Futures Appeal board.
Dr Williams handed over the reigns to WRU and Millennium Stadium chairman, David Pickering, during half time at the Wales V South Africa game at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday, June 5.
The Building Brighter Futures Appeal was launched in April 2008 with the aim of raising £4.5 million to fund the development of a new flagship centre for vulnerable children and young people in Wales, and ensure the ongoing provision of direct services until 2012.
As a result of the success of the appeal to date the NSPCC was able to officially open the doors to Diane Engelhardt House in Cardiff, last December.
Dr Williams said: “I will be forever indebted to all the board members for their incredible fundraising efforts over the past two years. They have done everything from hiking the Inca Trail to cycling from London to Paris and of course organising some wonderful dinners and balls. I would especially like to thank Sir Stanley Thomas, chair of the Building Brighter Futures Appeal, who has been an inspiration and role model to me.”
Dr Williams decided to step down from her position on the board when she took on a new role as Chief of Staff for Primary, Community and Specialist Medicine Clinical Programme Group at Betsi Cadwalador Hospital University Health Board.
She said: “I know that I place the project in safe hands. David Pickering has shown immense commitment to the cause and I feel confident that things will go from strength to strength under his chairmanship. I wish him and the rest of the board well.”
David Pickering, will now take on the role of chair of the Building Brighter Futures Appeal board until the Appeal ends in 2012.
David Pickering, said: “Dr Williams has been a wonderful ambassador for the NSPCC and for vulnerable children in Wales. Her support comes from a genuine belief in and passion for the work done by the NSPCC, and we can’t thank her enough for her contribution to ensuring that Diane Engelhardt House is there for all those children who so desperately need it.”
By donating to the Building Brighter Futures Appeal you can help change a child’s life. To make a donation, please visit www.nspcc.org.uk/brighterfutures.
