Pembrokeshire is the best unitary authority in Wales when it comes to fundraising - and that's official!
The county has raised more than £90,000 for the Noah's Ark appeal in the last eight months - that's more than treble the sum they pledged to raise for the children's hospital appeal and considerably more than any of the other 21 unitary authorities in Wales.
And to celebrate, hundreds of Pembrokeshire fundraisers held their very own Noah's Ark Party In The Park at Oakwood Park on Saturday complete with live entertainment, Pembrokeshire bands and live radio interviews tracking the money as it poured in!
Said the chairman of the Noah's Ark Pembrokeshire Appeal Fund committee: "We are absolutely delighted with the sum of money raised by the efforts of so many Pembrokeshire people. Not only have we outstripped the target set for us, but we have also achieved far more than any of the other unitary authorities in Wales, including many that are much larger than us. This fantastic sum raised is a credit to the big-hearted people of Pembrokeshire who richly deserve our praise and congratulations."
The fundraising effort began eight months ago when the Noah's Ark Appeal approached every unitary authority in Wales to raise £25,000 for the appeal for the chance to name one of the ward's at the new Cardiff children's hospital after their own county.
Pembrokeshire quickly took up the challenge and the Pembrokeshire Appeal Fund, chaired by Malcolm Green, was formed. Since then, hundreds of county schoolchildren, organisations, businesses and individuals have taken part in various fundraising activities, raising sums from £50 to £7,000. Schools across the county raised in excess of £10,000
The Noah's Ark Pembrokeshire Party in the Park was held at Oakwood Park on Saturday. In addition to Roy Noble at the cheque presentation event, there was entertainment from girl band Dragon Heart, Pembrokeshire's best known country and western folk singer Dai (DC) Rees, Johnston Brass Band and Connie Fisher, as well as live fundraiser interviews with Radio Withybush Roadshow. The Noah's Ark costume characters were also in attendance.