Ceredigion man stars in fun bilingual video of New Year Kayak Challenge for NHS Charity

Social distancing guidance and a flurry of snow didn’t stop one Ceredigion man from marking the New Year in style, and doing his bit to raise over £600 for an NHS health charity in the process.

Keith Henson, 49, from Nebo, near Aberaeron is a type 1 diabetic and has Common Variable Immune Deficiency, which makes him clinically extremely vulnerable, so he’s been shielding and working from home since the first lockdown in 2020.

Keith was inspired by his 13-year-old son Siôn to set up a fundraising challenge in aid of his local Diabetes Service, and it involved getting very cold and wet!

Keith said, “As a family we’ve been supported by our local NHS for a number of years, and we wanted to give something back at the end of what has been a very challenging year for so many. Traditionally many people in our community would enjoy singing Calennig from house to house to bring in the New Year, but obviously we couldn’t do that this year, so Sion came up with the idea of me singing the song in our garden, pretending to kayak as buckets of water were thrown on me.”

His family filmed the challenge and Keith shared it on his Facebook page. Having set an initial fundraising target of £100, Keith is delighted to have raised more than £600. He said, “I had hoped to brighten people’s spirits during lockdown, and it’s fantastic that so many people have been so generous with their donations. A friend has said she’s been inspired to do a fundraising challenge too, so it’s nice to know more good will come of it.”

Originally from Cribyn near Lampeter, Keith works as a Rural Housing Enabler based at Barcud, a housing association in Mid Wales. His wife Eira, 51 is part of the Administrative Team at Tanyfron Primary Care Integrated Care Centre Aberaeron.  The family have been long-term supporters of their local health charities, with Keith taking part in an 85 mile cycle challenge in 2019, and his daughter Gwenllian doing a charity sky dive in 2011.

Keith said, “It was easy to set up the fundraising page and it’s great that the money will be spent locally. I know it will be put to good use by the diabetes team, and I’m proud to be able to support them after the care I’ve received from the NHS since I was diagnosed with diabetes at 13 years of age.”

Anwen Mai Jones is a Community Diabetes Specialist Nurse who has known Keith for a number of years, she said, “Keith is an inspiration for us all and he certainly put a smile on my face on New Year’s Day!  The valuable funds raised will be used locally to support current services and benefit patients.  Ensuring individuals living with a Chronic Condition, such as Diabetes, continue to receive support and management during a pandemic has been a challenge.  However, it is essential that services adapt to support both physical and emotional health to prevent development of the longer term complications.”

The funds raised through Keith’s challenge will be used to support the evolving services above and beyond what the NHS provides.

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “We would like to thank Keith for his creative fundraising efforts and inspirational support.  Fundraisers like Keith make a huge difference to the lives of NHS patients and staff in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, and we are very grateful to anyone who decides to give something back to our NHS charities.”

To find out more about supporting Hywel Dda Health Charities and the support they provide, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Video of Keith’s Singing Calennig in a Kayak Challenge is at https://www.facebook.com/keth.henson.94/videos/1082091535642638

His JustGiving page will remain open for donations until the end of January https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Keith-Henson