Charitable council staff raise thousands for good causes

Big hearted Neath Port Talbot Council staff helped raise more than £20,000 for charity this year.

Among the good causes to benefit from their efforts are Age Concern Swansea Bay; the British Red Cross; Marie Curie; Prostate Cymru; Me, Myself and I Club based in Briton Ferry; MacMillan Cancer Support, the British Heart Foundation and Children In Need.

To date some £20,464 has been raised this year through the tireless efforts of council staff.

Some of the biggest sums raised by individuals include £4,920 raised by Quality and Review Officer Trudy Harris who undertook an eight day trek in the Himalayas to raise money for Marie Curie.

The total amount raised was in excess of Trudy’s original target of £3,500 and was helped by a cake sale in Cimla Hospital at the start of the year which raised just over £426.

Trudy, who has also completed treks in aid of the British Heart Foundation, said of her impressive fundraising effort for Marie Curie:

“The hardest day for me was the fourth. Already high in the mountains by this time, the snow and ice on very steep steps made trekking conditions treacherous. It took us seven hours to get to our designated lunch stop and another 5/6 hours trekking following this.

However, despite the aching muscles Trudy said it was the experience of a lifetime:

“By far my best and most challenging experience to date, a very tough trek and it has to be said, hard going but certainly an experience I will never ever forget.”

Another council employee who raised a four figure sum through their efforts is Employment Liaison Officer Alec Thomas who raised £2,568 after successfully completing a 968 mile cycle from John O’Groats to Land’s End, while also managing to squeeze in the 5km Great Scottish swim in Loch Lomond.

Alec (pictured below) raised the money for the Me, Myself and I Club in Briton Ferry which offers support to people living with dementia as well as to their families, friends or carers.

Reflecting on his achievement, Alec said:

“The swim was probably the hardest part of it all, and having to cycle the next day without a proper chance to recover. There was also some bad weather in Scotland, with some very strong winds, which made it even more difficult.

Alec added:

“It is such a worthy cause and I’m delighted to have exceeded my target. I’d like to thank everyone who has donated, the club for their support and also Runtech for supplying a support van.”

Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council, councillor Ali Thomas OBE said:

“It is heartening to hear how much the fundraising efforts of staff have raised for good causes over the year.

“It really is a credit to all those who have given their time to undertake the various challenges and to those who have supported them by making donations.”