Veterans’ Christmas surprise for dedicated staff at hospital
THEY lost two of their number to cancer this year.
So Bridgend Disabled Veterans decided to use their annual Random Act of Kindness to thank hospital staff.
The group delivered 104 Santa sacks filled with thousands of packets of biscuits and hundreds of tubs of chocolate to staff working in all departments at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
And appeal co-ordinators Tom Weaver and Alistair McFetrich were joined on Saturday by Sally Ann Loveday and Julie Reekie, whose veteran husbands Philip and Andy helped out with past appeals before their deaths this year.
“We wanted to do something to reach all of the staff, not just doctors and nurses, but the porters and reception – all of them,” said Tom, 53, a former corporal in the Royal Corps of Signals and Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire.
Tom, from Cefn Glas in Bridgend, was left completely paralysed down his left side and suffered some sight-loss after suffering a severe brain haemorrhage in June 2012.
But the help and kindness the wheelchair-user receives from the people of Bridgend inspired him to undertake the first Random Act of Kindness in 2013, when he handed out 100 boxes of chocolates to strangers in Bridgend town centre, funded by his Army pension and donations from local stores.
The event has grown each year since and last year Tom and Philip gave out 1,000 Subway meal deals worth £3,000 and also £10,000 worth of trampoline tickets from Go Air.
This year Tom gathered donations of biscuits and chocolate in Tesco Bridgend as well as funds.
And, with the help of Tesco’s community champion Angharad Davies, JobCentres in Bridgend, Porthcawl and Maesteg, HSBC, Jonathan Young of Bridgend Wheelchair Hire and Mobility Assist, a total of 4,000 packets of biscuits, as well as hundreds of tubs of chocolates and chocolate bars, were gathered up and placed into 104 Santa sacks for each hospital department.
On Saturday Bridgend MP Madeleine Moon, PCSOs and Mayor of Bridgend County Pamela Davies helped distribute them at the hospital.
Tom has also gathered dozens of toys, which will be handed out to patients on the hospital’s children’s ward later this month.
He said that through the appeal they had also been able to donate treats and toys to charities Gofal, Llamau, The Zone and also the Mayor’s and Princess of Wales Hospital charity.
“I can’t believe we have managed to do this,” he said.
“The Bridgend Disabled Veterans would like to thank Bridgend residents for all their help throughout the year, because without their help we couldn’t live as independently as we do.”