Couple raising funds to thank children’s ward
A GWENDRAETH Valley couple have launched a fundraising campaign to purchase computer gaming equipment for the children’s ward at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen following the care their son received there.
Ross and Lauren Hicks, from Pontyberem, are aiming to raise £2,000 to purchase a RockinR Game Cart, which enables children and youngsters to play the Xbox Series S or in some cases a PlayStation 5 while they are in hospital.
The fundraising effort for the Cilgerran Ward is being done as a huge thank-you to the hospital which cared for their son Rori, who was born two weeks premature in September last year.
Ross said: “This £2,000 to buy a RockinR Game Cart is the first of a few fundraising efforts we plan on doing for the children’s ward to buy new toys and play equipment.
“The sort of things we are looking to buy in future range from sensory equipment, pyjamas, craft activities and general toys for the ward’s playroom.
“The first thing we are aiming for is the gaming cart and will provide children who are admitted with upto-date gaming facilities with the goal of distraction and some sense of normality for them while in hospital.”
Ross, 35, and Lauren, 30, said it was the incredible care their son Rori had at the hospital’s special care baby unit last year that inspired them to start fundraising.
Ross said: “Rori was premature and born two weeks early. He had an infection when born and the hospital was concerned about his feeding so he was at the special care baby unit for a fortnight.
“Lauren was also kept in hospital too as she was also unwell.
“Thankfully, Rori got better and he’s now just over six months old and really developing his personality and is a little character. The care they both had was second to none at the hospital and I said we should do something as a thank-you, so that’s where the fundraising for the children’s ward came from.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise the £2,000 needed for the gaming cart and there is also a fundraising screening of the new DreamWorks Animation film The Bad Guys at Cross Hands Public Hall and Cinema on Saturday, May 7 at 3pm.
Tickets, priced at £6.50 for adults and £4.50 for children, will only be available from the cinema’s box office on the day of the screening and it is a cash-only venue.
The majority of the proceeds will go towards the Hicks family’s fundraising effort.
Ross added: “I’m looking at doing more fundraising for the ward and have some ideas such as online bingo and a quiz over coming months.”
More details of further fundraising events will be announced in the near future.
■ You can support the GoFundMe page at www.gofundme.com/f/savvy-gamer