Rhod Gilbert is Calling on you to Help Paint Wales Red this February.
Wear Red for Wales and Velindre is back on the 2nd of February 2024, and we are so lucky to have our wonderful patron and patient Rhod Gilbert as the face (and voice) of this year’s campaign.
After being a patron for the charity for over 10 years, Rhod Gilbert became a patient at Velindre when he received a diagnosis of stage four head and neck cancer back in the summer of 2022. Rhod underwent cancer treatment at Velindre Cancer Centre and a year on rang the bell to signal the end of his treatment in the summer of 2023.
Rhod bravely documented and shared his cancer journey with the release of his documentary ‘Rhod Gilbert: A Pain in the Neck’ for SU2C. This created a huge amount of awareness for Velindre and showed the reality of living with cancer. Rhod remains an unstoppable force in the world of fundraising and this year is once again the face of our Wear Red for Wales and Velindre campaign.
Rhod Gilbert joined us to talk about Wear Red 2024, Rhod said:
“I was a patient at Velindre last year and they saved my life. It’s an incredible place and we are so lucky to have it here in Wales. Money raised from the Wear Red for Wales and Velindre makes a huge difference, I know. It’s helped pay for the Specialist Nurse that helped me through my journey, who was on the end of the phone when I was scared or didn’t understand something. It helped pay for the complimentary therapies that I received during my chemotherapy.
Last year I asked you to Wear Red for Wales and donate £1 to Velindre, and you didn’t let me down. You wore red to school, you wore red to work, some of you did red cake sales, held red quiz nights, took part in red workouts and together you painted Wales red, had fun and raised a staggering £75,000 for Velindre.
The money makes a huge difference to the lives of cancer patients and their families in Wales, patients like me. I’ve experienced first-hand the difference the fundraising makes, and it is huge. So, I’m asking you to support the Wear Red for Wales and Velindre campaign on Friday the 2nd of February 2024 and donate £1 or whatever you can.”
Our annual Wear Red for Wales and Velindre campaign takes place this year on Friday the 2nd of February 2024, the eve of the Guinness Six Nation Rugby Tournament, with the aim of showing support to our international rugby teams and of course to raise vital funds for Velindre.
But why stop there? If you want to do more, you could host a red themed event such as a cake sale, quiz night or workout. Every pound you raise will help provide hope for more cancer patients in Wales and raise awareness for the work that we do.
It really is easy to make a big difference.
Velindre and Rhod Gilbert are calling on you to help us #PaintWalesRed on the 2nd of February. It’s so easy! Wear Red. Donate £1. Make a difference.
