Welsh lorry drivers turned out in force on Sunday (13th June) for Action for Children as the Porthcawl Truck Gathering held their annual Truck Run between Swansea and Newport. The run started at Pont Abraham Services on the western end of the M4 with trucks and lorries driving 70 miles in convoy along the motorway corridor to Magor Services, just east of Newport.
Around 70 vehicles took part in this popular event as they celebrated the immense contribution of drivers and their lorries to keeping Britain going, particularly during the pandemic. Graham Edwards organised the event along with Royston, Darran and Emma Galvin.
Graham said: ‘We had a great day that again, proved really popular with families as they gathered to see the trucks leave as well as cheering us on our way from motorway bridges. It’s a lovely gesture of appreciation from the public especially as the pandemic has underlined how we’ve helped keep the country going throughout the Covid crisis.
‘We chose Action for Children as our charity this year as their frontline staff have been working flat out to help vulnerable families and children who, in many cases, have found themselves without an income for the first time because of coronavirus. Whether it’s young carers, children with mental health issues or disabilities, Action for Children has been going the extra mile for them and we were keen to do our bit to help.’
Nina Rice, Action for Children’s fundraising Regional Manager for Bristol, Bath and South Wales, added: ‘We were delighted to have been chosen by the Porthcawl Truck Gathering to benefit from this year’s Truck Run. It’s been an incredibly challenging time for our staff and all the children and families we support so this is a great boost as we start to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic.
‘It was wonderful to see people lining motorway bridges with their banners and cheering the drivers as they made their way along the M4, it was an amazing sight. We’re so grateful to be recognised in this way by the big hearted and generous drivers who gave their time and vehicles for free. Thank you to everybody involved in making this a great day for Action for Children.’
With donations still coming and being counted, the full amount raised will be announced at a celebration event in Porthcawl at the end of the month.
Help keep news FREE for our readers
Supporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism, then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. Read More About Supporting The West Wales Chronicle