Tŷ Hafan donations double in value this weekend

Need inspiration for your Christmas gift buying? Did you know that if you buy from any of Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice's 17 charity shops between Saturday 14 November and Tuesday 17 November the money you spend will be worth double its face value?

This is because Tŷ Hafan's shops are supporting the charity's Every Precious Life Appeal which tells the story of William Watkins and his last Christmas with his family before he died at just five years old.

Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice has charity shops in the following locations:

William, who loved dinosaurs, music and Liverpool Football Club, was diagnosed with cancer at three. He underwent extensive surgeries and radio therapy and always with a smile on his face.

However after mum and dad, Nicola and Ian, were told in March 2021 that there were no more treatment options available to their beloved little boy, the little family spent William's final weeks at Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice. There they received the specialist holistic support that only Tŷ Hafan could offer them.

William died on 1 May 2021, and Nicola and Ian continue to be supported by Tŷ Hafan to this day.

"He was in so much pain towards the end," said Nicola, who works at a residential care home, "that to touch him, we couldn't do it. The only time I could hold William and he didn't feel the pain was in the hydrotherapy pool at Tŷ Hafan.

"And I could hug and hold my boy.

"Tŷ Hafan is the closest thing to heaven in my eyes. And it saved my life. I know I lost my son but without Tŷ Hafan's support I wouldn't be here today.

"Because you haven't got a clue what it means to us unless you've been through it or have got a child that needs Tŷ Hafan."

The couple, from Cowbridge, the Vale of Glamorgan, have chosen to share their story in the run up to Christmas as their way of 'giving back' to Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice which, they say, has been their lifeline throughout the worst time of their lives.

You can watch a short video about William’s story here…

Dan Bamsey, Head of Fundraising for Tŷ Hafan, said: "Our heartfelt desire in the run up to this Christmas is to raise £200,000 so that we can walk alongside even more families like William's through life, death and beyond.

"And it is easy to support wherever you are. You can support by shopping in any of our charity shops this weekend (14 to 17 November) where the value of your purchases will be doubled, and, even better, the value of your donations will be doubled too.

"Plus if you make a donation either online or over the phone between 10am on Monday 16 November and 6pm on Wednesday, 18 November then the value of that will be doubled too – all thanks to our £100,000 match-funding pot provided by our generous backers.

"No family should have face their child's last Christmas alone we know that currently we are only reaching one in every ten families who could benefit from our support.

"So donate to our Every Precious Life Appeal and helping to ensure that no family has to live their child's short life alone."