This December, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity is celebrating 10 years making things better for patients, visitors, staff and the wider community.
The Health Charity had planned to hold a 10 year celebration event, looking back at the major projects it has funded and celebrating the contributions of their donors, fundraisers and volunteers and community partners during the past decade. Unfortunately, due to Coronavirus these plans had to be cancelled. Instead the Health Charity will be taking a look-back at how its fundraisers, donors, volunteers and community partners have helped to change things for the better over the past ten years.
During the past 10 years, the Health Charity has worked tirelessly to support patients and staff – making environments more welcoming and providing those items not supported with normal NHS funding. Often it’s the little extras to support patient experience that make all the difference.
Each month the Health Charity will be sharing a look-back at each year, starting with December 2010, highlighting the key fundraising activities and those who had raised money during this time.
This year has been unprecedented for the Health Charity, with income reduced as many fundraising events were cancelled to help stop the spread.
The support received from the local and wider community was fantastic in response to the #SpreadTheLove campaign. Communities came together to supply food to staff on the front-line and donations of toiletries to ensure that staff working long shifts could freshen up after removing full PPE. Young and old alike took part in fundraising activities such as head shaves, virtual running events, toy sales and bake sales to raise money to support their much-loved NHS at a time when it was needed the most.
Some of the key achievements over the past ten years are:
- Funding the purpose-built Breast Centre at University Hospital Llandough
- Upgrading mammography equipment
- Funding portable scanners
- Opening the Hearth Gallery at University Hospital Llandough
- Funding the Medical Skills Education Suite at the University Hospital of Wales
- Raising over £100,000 during the Cardiff Half Marathon 2018
- Winning a Silver-Gilt Medal at RHS Cardiff for the Our Orchard inspired entry
Akmal Hanuk, Chair of the Charitable Funds Committee said: “I am very proud of this great charity we have built during the past 10 years. We’ve been able to support so many worthwhile projects that make such a difference to our patients and staff – but we could not do this without our generous fundraisers and donors.
“The past year has been particularly challenging for all of us, as it has been for many other charities, with many fundraising events cancelled. We are extremely grateful for everyone’s continued support during these difficult times and I look forward with hope for the next 10 years and to supporting many more worthwhile projects in the future.”
Simone Joslyn, Head of Arts and Cardiff & Vale Health Charity said: “Our 10th anniversary has given us opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come as a charity, not only in financial terms, but also the difference we’ve made to our patients, staff, volunteers, families and our community during this time.
“None of this would have been possible without the incredible support of our fundraisers, donors and supporters, as well as the hard work of volunteers and staff. I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for their support during the past 10 years.”
If you’d like to support Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and donate £10 to celebrate 10 years please visit www.healthcharity.wales/donate