Charities that we are going to be supporting...
We are going to be raising money for two very different, but equally worthy causes - 50% will go to Ty Hafan (the children's hospice of Wales), and 50% will be split between Fishguard & St David's lifeboats. To donate and help us support these very worthy causes, please visit our sponsorship page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/awalkinthepalk
Tŷ Hafan was established in 1999 to provide respite, palliative and end of life care to the children in Wales who suffer from life-limiting conditions. Life limiting conditions are those which mean that the child or young person is not expected to reach nineteen years of age.
Children suffer from various conditions, such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Cystic Fibrosis and Celebral Palsy. Some children are diagnosed at birth; others receive no diagnosis or at some point treatment is abandoned. Children and their families might receive our support for many years or just for a few days at the end of life. Either way, Tŷ Hafan provides love, care and support for the children and their families absolutely free of charge.
Tŷ Hafan is a registered charity and was established entirely from public donations. It now costs £2.5 million a year to run the hospice and all but 17% (Government funding) is raised through the generosity of our donors and supporters.
The lifeboat stations in Fishguard and St Davids were established by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1822 and 1869 respectively. They are two of over 200 stations located around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The RNLI is a charity funded by donations from the public and, whilst each station has a full time Mechanic, the vast majority of the lifeboat crew members are volunteers.
The lifeboats provide an invaluable service for people who live and work in Pembrokeshire, and for tourists visiting the area, but in addition, being the closest Welsh Lifeboats to southern Ireland adds a huge responsibility for the saving of lives in the Irish Sea and St Georges Channel, assisting ships from all over the world which pass close to the shore. In addition to sea traffic St Davids and Strumble Heads are import waypoints or navigation marks for trans-Atlantic aircraft and at times the lifeboats have been called upon for search and rescue in connection with these.
Over 1000 lives have been saved by lifeboats based at St Davids & Fishguard, with many other people assisted over the years. Some of the rescues have made national and international news, some have involved considerable skill and bravery which have been recognised by the presentation of awards by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and both British and foreign Governments.
To donate and help us support these very worthy causes, please visit our sponsorship page - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/awalkinthepalk
