EVERYDAY HEROES HONOURED
THERE are a few special people viewed as heroes in our society – some who have shown great courage when the days are very dark, and some who make a huge contribution to people’s lives.
A special programme, Dathlu Dewrder 2022 (Celebrating Bravery) on S4C on Friday, will celebrate and thank many groups and individuals for their remarkable work. In the company of Elin Fflur and Owain Tudur Jones, the programme will say thanks by presenting a special award by the artist Buddug to those heroes.
During the hour-long programme we’ll hear the stories of nine organisations and individuals across Wales and beyond, including Dr Jonathan Hurst of Liverpool Women’s Hospital, Michael Beynon, formerly of Ammanford and Llanelli, but now of Chirk, near Wrexham, and Dawn Thomas, a paediatric care play specialist for Hywel Dda Health Board.
Dr Jonathan Hurst has made an incredible difference to the lives of North Wales families by taking the extra step and learning Welsh a year ago: “Five years ago I came to Liverpool to work, and quickly realized we had 30 families coming here from North Wales – all of whom consider Welsh as their first language,” he said.
“It’s important to me – and in general – that we should recognise it – especially during times that are difficult for families.”
Michael Beynon has achieved an incredible feat. Despite living with Down Syndrome, Hypertonia in one leg and only 50 per cent vision, Michael completed the London Marathon last year, in order to raise money for Mencap.
Erika Walker, Michael’s mother, said: “I’m proud of him every day with everything he does. I think that children and adults with Down Syndrome can do more than people think they can; they always try so hard and don’t let anything stop them; they shine like stars.”
This year a special new award, Tlws Belle (the Belle Award), will be given in memory of Belle Curran, one of the 2019 Dathlu Dewrder children’s award winners who lost her battle while awaiting a lung transplant.
Tlws Belle will be given to one of our community’s unsung heroes – Dawn Thomas, Hywel Dda Health Board’s paediatric care play specialist.
Belle’s mother chose Dawn, and it becomes clear why Dawn is so special to the family: “Dawn is like a ray of sunshine that comes into people’s lives when they’re at their worst time. Dawn became Belle’s best friend. She got Belle through some really awful things too – lots of different surgeries and procedures.
“Part of Dawn’s charm is that she doesn’t realise what she does for people. Hopefully what this award will do is show us what we and other families think about her.”
Among the others being honoured include an award to commemorate the bravery of Joseph of Brynaman who lost his battle against a rare form of cancer after Christmas, at the age of three; the family of Bob Gledhill of Peniel, near Carmarthen, for setting up the charity Motor-on Cymru, to raise awareness and funds for research in the field; Rhian Mannings of Miskin set up 2Wish, a charity that supports families who have suddenly lost young loved ones; Caernarfon’s Chris Summers who set up the Porthi Pawb project to make sure no-one went hungry during the pandemic; Pontarddulais teenager Emily Nicole who is determined to change the world with her YouTube videos; and, a family of Syrian refugees who now call Cardigan home.
Dathlu Dewrder is on S4C on Friday at 8pm. English and Welsh subtitles available.