January’s Fundraising Wrap Up
Velindre’s dedicated fundraisers have had a flying start to 2025! From hikes, marathons and quiz nights to knitted hats and head shaves, our supporters have been taking part in all kinds of exciting fundraising activities in aid of Velindre. As January draws to a close, we look at some of their inspiring challenges below…
Velindre’s fundraisers brave the shave!
Cwrt Rawlin Football Club braved the shave this month in support of their goalkeeper, Joe, who is currently being treated at Velindre. The team took to the clippers on the 6th January, shaving their heads in solidarity with their teammate whilst also raising vital funds and awareness for Velindre. The club have raised an amazing £2,367 so far and are already gearing up for their next challenge! They’ll be running the Caerphilly 10k on the 11th May as an additional way of showing their support. Joining them in the race will be Joe’s partner, Millie Fitzgerald. Millie will be running in support of Joe and has already raised an astounding £3,240 for Velindre! Best of luck to Millie and the club on race day! You can visit the team’s JustGiving page here and Millie’s JustGiving page here.
Sheryl Morgan also braved the shave last year in support of Velindre! The event, which was organised and run by Martin, Alex and Jeanette, had help from dedicated locals, Laurie, Lisa, Frances and Calum. Martin and the team, who have all sadly lost loved ones to cancer, regularly donate to local charities and have fundraised for us previously. They were extremely happy to donate the fantastic £502 raised from this event to Velindre and we really are thankful for their ongoing support!
Kelsey Curnick’s knit-a-thon
Kelsey Curnick put her knitting skills to the test this month by knitting as many premature baby hats as possible throughout January in memory of her Grampy, Anthony (Tony) Curnick. The baby hats will be sent to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, where Kelsey had her son Arlo and the funds raised will be donated to the Velindre Charity. Kelsey is dedicating her month to this knitting endurance test and with £120 raised, she’s already smashed her fundraising target! Visit Kelsey’s JustGiving page here.
Sam Davies runs a marathon a month!
This January, Sam Davies begins his mammoth challenge of running a marathon a month to raise funds for Velindre. Sam’s nan was cared for at Velindre and he speaks highly of the outstanding support that his fantastic nan received whilst here at the centre. Follow Sam’s progress on the Strava app as he completes his marathon a month. You can also visit Sam’s JustGiving page here.
NFU Mutual Bridgend and Swansea complete 40 miles in January
As long-term supporters and fundraisers for Velindre Charity, the team at NFU Mutual Bridgend and Swansea aren’t afraid of a challenge! Each member of staff braved the cold this month to complete 40 miles of walking or running throughout January in aid of Velindre. The chilly challenge finishes on the 31st January with a climb up the Garth mountain, coinciding with our annual ‘Wear Red for Wales and Velindre’ day. Congratulations to the team who have already raised an amazing £950 for Velindre! Visit the team’s JustGiving page here.
Alex Bagley walks the Cambrian Way
Alex Bagley will be taking on the Cambrian Way this year to raise money for Velindre. The trail, which spans 298 miles from Cardiff to Conwy, traverses some of the highest and wildest parts of Wales. Luckily Alex won’t be alone—keeping him company on the trail will be his dog, Finn. Good luck to Alex and Finn as they start their journey! Visit Alex’s JustGiving page here.
Forget Me Not design competition
In October 2024, Velindre Charity Ambassador, Wayne Griffiths, proudly hosted a design competition to create the new Velindre pin badge in support of the Rhian Griffiths Forget Me Not Fund. The competition, which closed this month, invited both creativity and passion from entrants and every submission was nothing short of amazing. Each design reflected the hope and compassion that truly capture the heart and spirit of Velindre. These heartfelt contributions not only celebrate Velindre’s mission but also honour the incredible legacy of the Rhian Griffiths Forget Me Not Fund. Winners will be announced soon and we can’t wait to see the new design! Visit the Griffiths family JustGiving page here.
The Times’ Rugby Union Writers’ Club host a quiz night
The Times’ Rugby Union Writers’ Club hosted a charity quiz night this month in memory of their friend and colleague, rugby journalist Steve Bale. The quiz, which took place at The Cabbage Patch pub in Twickenham, raised an astounding £1,950 for Velindre! The Club’s Vice Chair Will Kelleher said: “We chose Velindre as one of our great friends and colleagues Steve Bale was treated there—he unfortunately passed away last year, so wanted to pay tribute to him and your work in some way. Jonathan Davies helped with a round – guessing the best team he’d watched through his career playing and broadcasting too! It was a pleasure to raise funds for you guys.”
How your fundraising makes a difference
Thanks to the support of our fundraisers, we can fund a range of essential supportive care services for our patients and their families.
For every £100 raised, we can fund a wig voucher for a patient experiencing hair thinning or hair loss. The vouchers, accessed through Velindre’s hair loss service, mean that patients can focus on building their confidence and feeling good, instead of worrying about the financial cost of buying a wig. Over 500 patients a year on average redeem these vouchers, so our fundraisers’ support really does make a huge impact.
For every £1,000 raised, we can fund 100 copies of the ‘Caring for My Family with Cancer’ book series. Developed by our Supportive Care Lead Nurse, these storybooks help families explain a cancer diagnosis to children. With accompanying lion toys to cuddle, families can address some of the worries that children have about cancer in a comforting and accessible way.
These are just two examples of the vital supportive care services that help our patients and their families with the physical and emotional impacts of a cancer diagnosis.
Thank you!
We just want to say a massive thank you to our incredible fundraisers. Your passion and commitment are truly inspiring and we couldn’t fund these services without you. We can’t wait to see what February brings!
Have you been inspired by our fundraisers’ stories and would like more information about fundraising your way? Then go to ‘Fundraise for Us’ on our website or get in touch with a dedicated member of our fundraising team at info@velindrefundraising.com to get started!
