21 years of helping to keep centre running
A MAN who has raised more than £300,000 for a children’s charity is this week’s winner of the South Wales Echo Bouquet of the Week. Derek Redwood, 65, from Penylan in Cardiff, first started supporting Bobath Wales, a charity providing specialist therapy to children with cerebral palsy, in 1998. Since then, he’s raised an impressive £300,000 for the charity, who have a children’s centre based in Whitchurch.
After hosting three successful fundraising dinners from 1998 to 2000, and raising £7,668, Derek decided to form the Friends of Bobath Wales group.
Now the charity would like to recognise Derek for his outstanding fundraising effort. Rachel Morgan, head of income generation, nominated Derek for all his hard work.
She said: “I am delighted to nominate Derek for Bouquet of the Week as for his commitment and his amazing fundraising efforts that have spanned 21 years.
“This year, the charity needs to raise £1.5m to keep the centre running. More than three quarters of this total needs to come from fundraising activity, which is why supporters like Derek are so important to us, we simply couldn’t do the work we do without them. On behalf of us all at Bobath Wales, thank you Derek.”
Derek said he was “shocked” he had been nominated.
“It’s the first time anyone has brought me flowers,” he said.
“It’s nice to be appreciated. I have a long connection with Bobath.”
■ If you know someone who deserves an Echo Bouquet of the Week, email your nomination, with reasons, and your name, address and telephone number to: echo. newsdesk@walesonline.co.uk
■ You can also write to South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1XR. Usual Media Wales terms and conditions apply and all nominations must agree to be photographed.