130-mile cycle raises over £2,000 for NHS charity

Rhys James cycled 130 miles in one day and raised £2,117 for the Cardiology Department at Glangwili Hospital.

 Rhys, a peripatetic guitar teacher from Carmarthen, cycled from Caernarfon in north Wales to Carmarthen in the south Wales on 16^th September 2023.

 Rhys decided to raise the funds as a thanks for the excellent care he received from the staff in the department.

 Rhys said: “I had a heart operation in Morriston Hospital in January 2023 which was following a lot of monitoring and care in the Cardiology Department in Glangwili.

 “Their diagnosis and monitoring were crucial for my rapid treatment and recovery. It was a great comfort to be able to talk to professionals early on and know I was being monitored and given the best chance of recovery.

 “The cycle went well with no incidents or punctures. The weather was not great with rain at times, but it was great seeing the length of Wales in detail in one day, so despite being a tiring day, it was also enjoyable.

 “The response of my fundraising was remarkable, it was quite emotional to see the money come in, I have very generous friends and family. I had a vague goal in mind, but I far exceeded that which is great.

 “I would like to thank our tireless NHS staff. From porters to consultants, nurses and GPs. I was treated efficiently and with care across two hospitals, they were all brilliant.”

 Andrea Evans, Cardiac Rehab Nurse, said: “The Arrhythmia team would like to thank Rhys for his commitment to organising the fundraising event for our service.

 “His kind and generous actions have led to a substantial amount of money being raised, which we are very grateful to accept.

 “We envisage that these charitable funds will purchase new and innovative equipment for the assessment and detection of abnormal heart rhythms, which ultimately will help improve patient care. Thank you.”

 Claire Rumble, Fundraising Officer for Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to Rhys for taking on his cycle to raise funds for our charity.

 “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can normally provide and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

 For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk