Our ‘Wear Red for Wales and Velindre’ campaign went off with a bang today! The annual event coincides with the first match of the Six Nations tournament taking place tonight and we can’t wait to see more of your photos on social media before the day is over! Whether you’ve donated, taken part in a fundraiser, donned one of our red t-shirts or simply worn a splash of red to show your support, we just wanted to say a massive thank to you for making today so successful!
Patients and staff were excited to chat with our surprise guest today, Velindre Charity President, Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies, who spent time with patients on the ward receiving treatment, as well as chatting to frontline staff and teams funded by the Velindre Charity. Jonathan met with staff in the counselling, psychology and complementary therapy teams who explained how these services, which can often be overlooked, are essential in supporting patients along their cancer pathway. Talking to an experienced psychologist or counsellor can help patients to process their diagnosis and navigate the psychological impact of cancer treatment. In addition to psychological support, complementary therapies can help to manage patients’ physical symptoms and can provide a much-needed respite from the medicalised nature of cancer care.
Jonathan Davies expressed his admiration for staff and fundraisers at Velindre: “It makes a real difference coming here to the cancer centre. Speaking to patients and the staff that we fund from the charity, seeing children walking 16 miles to fundraise—it’s really special and shows how all the hard work put in by fundraisers is really worth it. It all has a massive impact on patients’ lives.”
Our ‘Wear Red’ supporters spanned all the way from Pencoed in south Wales to Perth in Australia and we were blown away by some of the activities our fundraisers got involved in to raise money. Some highlights from the day included our youngest supporters at Acorns Nursery, wearing red for Velindre and our young ambassadors, Riley and Macey, taking on a walking challenge in memory of their grandad. Riley and Macey started from Pencoed in south Wales and walked 16 miles all the way to Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, where they finished with a well-deserved lunch.
One of our long-term supporters, Andrew Challis, even wrote a poem for the day:
I’m wearing red for Wales and Velindre
this is my contribution,
so proud to show my support for this fine national institution.
A beacon of hope here in Cymru
through the darkness
Velindre shines bright,
against the scourge that is cancer
at the forefront leading the fight.
Honoured to support this great cause
one that is close to my heart,
I’m proudly today wearing red
it’s my pleasure to play a small part.
Together paint our nation red
C’mon show your support and be proud
Gwisgo Coch i Gymru a Felindre
Mam, Tad, Chwaer a Brawd!!!
This year’s event saw our incredible supporters come together in schools, gyms and businesses in a sea of red to show their support and raise awareness for Velindre. Today also saw the highest number of staff we’ve ever seen join in the campaign.
Some of the Charity’s team visited Meadowbank School in Cardiff to support the staff and students in their Wear Red themed outdoor activities. The staff spoke openly about the appreciation they have for the work of Velindre, especially being local to the centre. Our Charity staff received such a warm welcome from the students who involved the Charity in all of their games and activities.
Joining Jonathan Davies around the centre, were new Chief Executive, David Donnegan and Velindre Charity Chair, Donna Mead.
David said: “It was truly inspiring to see how all our staff and supporters came together for our annual Wear Red for Wales and Velindre campaign, and we couldn’t be more grateful for your support.”
This year’s event was generously sponsored by Peter’s Pies who also donated their pasties to the centre so staff and patients could grab themselves a free lunch on the day.
Thank you also to Cadw Cymru Wales who lit up the iconic Castell Coch in red in support of Velindre.
We want to say a huge thank you to all of our amazing supporters who wore red today for Wales and Velindre! We couldn’t support our patients, families and staff without you and we hope you’ll join us again next year!
