A farming family from Llanwrda have set themselves the challenge of raising £10,000 in a year in memory of a much-loved husband and father.
Sue Thomas is raising money for the Intensive Care Unit at Glangwili Hospital to say thank you for the care received by her husband Meirion, who sadly passed away in March from sepsis at the age of 57.
She is being supported by their three sons, sales manager Chris, 30; sales representative Aled, 26 and 20-year-old student Sion, at their family home, a 252-acre, mixed beef and sheep farm.
The family is planning a year of fundraising events, which kick off in November with the three brothers growing a moustache for Movember.
Sue, a bank cashier and florist, said: “The whole family has been devastated by the passing of my husband Meirion. He was a loving husband and caring father to his three boys.
“His greatest passion in life other than his family was his farm and the agricultural industry. Even when the sepsis took hold he kept on lambing until the ambulance arrived.
“Meirion was taken to Glangwili Hospital, to ICU, where he received the most wonderful care anyone could have wished for. The doctors and nurses did everything in their power to bring him home but the sepsis took over.
“We want to raise money for the Intensive Care Unit to say thank you for everything they did. We will always be truly grateful for the care he received.”
Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, Nicola Llewellyn, said: “This is a fantastic pledge by the Thomas family, to hold a whole year of fundraising. Both the charity and the ICU at Glangwili Hospital are very grateful.
“Fundraising makes a huge difference to the lives of our NHS patients and staff and we are amazed by how much local families like the Thomases are doing to help.
“Every penny donated to our charity goes directly to improving lives in the NHS in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.”
The family is planning several different fundraising events in the year to November 2021, including a Welsh Three Peaks challenge; a flower and song evening; and an entertainment evening of sketches and other performances, with an auction.
They have already raised £2,929 of their £10,000 target. If you would like to donate, you can do so here: http://www.justgiving.com/Sue-Thomas26.
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