Charity ball raises over £25,000 in aid of Appeal

Above: fundraisers Lowri and Lisa present a cheque to the Bryngolau Ward team.

A charity ball, raffle and auction has raised a fantastic £25,300 for the Prince Philip Hospital Gardens Appeal.

The event was organised by cousins Lowri Elen Jones, 20, from Peniel in Carmarthenshire, and Lisa Ann Evans, 22, from Llangybi in Ceredigion, and took place at Bronwydd Hall, Carmarthen in June.

Heather Price, a local Barclays Business Banking employee, kindly supported the event. The total raised includes a £1,000 donation in match funding from Barclays.

Lowri and Lisa decided to organise the event in aid of the Appeal as their grandfather, Hywel Griffiths, has previously been a patient on Bryngolau Ward, a 15-bed older adult mental health unit.

Lowri said: “This worthy cause is very close to our hearts as a family. We decided to hold a ball to raise money for the Appeal to show our appreciation and gratitude to the ward.

“My Grandfather is an ex-farmer, so he is used to all the fresh air and being out in all weather.

“Back in August 2023, he got moved to Bryngolau Ward. Knowing that the outdoor area wasn't suitable for the patients was disappointing, bearing in mind how important vitamin D is to our mental health, let alone to a patient that is in care to improve their mental health. These gardens will benefit all patients on the ward whatever their background.

“The ball tickets sold out in less than a week after we released them. Lisa and I were overwhelmed with the amount of interest and support we received from friends.

“We’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone, including all the local businesses, who supported the event and made it such a success. We are absolutely thrilled by the amount we raised!”

Tara Nickerson, Fundraising Manager at Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “We’ve been blown away by Lowri and Lisa’s fundraising for the Appeal and we want to say a huge thank you to them for their incredible hard work and dedication, and to everyone who attended and supported the event.

“The fantastic total raised by the ball will be a huge boost for the Appeal, and we are now even closer to reaching our target.”