Lee Waters MS, the Deputy Minister for climate change, took to the skies above Swansea for a charity skydive this week to raise funds for a special garden makeover of a Mencap Cymru supported living service in Llangennech.
The first jump was set to take place in March to coincide with St David’s Day, but had to be postponed due to adverse weather conditions and the whole group of eight people were determined to jump together again on the 14th of May 2023.
The Llanelli member of the Welsh Parliament has already raised over £3,500 towards the £40,000 target for the new accessible garden and sensory room and is keen raise even more for his constituents. Mr Waters took part in the skydive alongside Wayne Crocker, Director of Mencap Cymru and 7 other charity skydivers.
Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, said: “My grandfather, Glanville Davies, was a parachutist in the Second World War. He endured unspeakable horrors, including the battle of Arnhem. It haunted him for the rest of his life. He was extremely important to me and when he died, I pledged to myself that I would one day jump as a quiet tribute to him.
“The jump was organised to support Mencap Cymru’s work to improve the lives of the 65,000 people with a learning disability living in Wales by providing a range of support services, as well as advice and advocacy. The money raised will help create an accessible garden and sensory room for disabled tenants in a Llengennech house supported by Mencap Cymru. Please support me by donating and please know that every penny helps, thank you!”
Every penny raised by will go towards funding Mencap’s life-changing services, which aim to tackle stigma and help people with a learning disability lead happy and healthy lives. To support this great cause, then please click here:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lee-waters12
Wayne Crocker, Director at Mencap Cymru, said: “This was my fifth jump in Swansea for Mencap, and I was so excited when Lee agreed to join me and the other brave jumpers to raise money for our work in Wales. The Maes y Dderwyn Garden project will help create an accessible sensory garden for disabled people living in Lee’s constituency. In total we have raised over £8000 which will go towards the accessible garden project and Mencap Cymru’s campaigning work in Wales”
There are around 75,000 people with a learning disability in Wales and they face huge inequalities every day of their lives. They are more likely to be socially isolated, nearly twice as likely to be inactive and sadly, people with a learning disability will die on average over two decades earlier compared to the general population. Mencap Cymru want to change this and will continue to campaign tirelessly for people’s rights and stand up against stigma and discrimination.
Founded in 1946, Mencap provides the highest quality frontline support to thousands of people with a learning disability, while ensuring that people with a learning disability and their families and carers can get help through the charity’s helpline, online support services and lobbying and influencing work.
Together we can improve the lives of people with a learning disability now and into the future.
It’s not too late to support Mencap’s life-changing work. To find out more about fundraising opportunities, or to donate, please visit:
https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/fundraise-mencap
To find out more about the work of Mencap Cymru in Wales, please contact
helpline.wales@mencap.org.uk and if you would like to take part in a future challenge please contact community.fundraising@mencap.org.uk.
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