As I sit down to talk to Gwyneth Evans, volunteer in Fishguard for over 30 years at the Paul Sartori Foundation, it is clear to me that her dedication and enthusiasm has helped shape the foundation (writes Judith Williams).

She has followed a journey of fantastic fundraising proportions and she needs now, after 30 years of various volunteering duties, to take some time for herself and her other community commitments in her beloved Fishguard town.

Gwyneth is one of Paul Sartori’s dedicated volunteers, who due to ill health herself as a child, recognised the need for the services that the Paul Sartori Foundation offer to Pembrokeshire people living in the later stages of a life limiting illnesses. Gwyneth added: “When I was introduced to the foundation, I thought that the concept was brilliant and I wanted to help and support people suffering in my community.”

Gwyneth’s passion grew from the early 1980s starting to help with house to house collections, and then went onto raise funds holding coffee mornings, fashion shows involving her friends and family and Rainbow Bazaars.

Approached by the foundation during 1999, Gwyneth was asked to help set-up the Sartori Store in Fishguard, her ‘give it a go’ phrase saw her achieve the rent on the building for the week in the first day, and she has never looked back since!

Like all volunteers, Gwyneth admits that her fellow volunteers have become more like friends and she could not have done and achieved great things without them.

Her love for involving the community, has welcomed great characters to her role within the Paul Sartori Foundation, where she will be sadly missed. Gwyneth has found that recently managing two stores and volunteers has left little time for her other community commitments, namely her involvement in the Lions Club, Fishguard Senior Citizens Committee and the Friendship Club, along with a Craft Group which she holds regularly every Tuesday evening at the Transition Café in Fishguard.

Gwyneth, is clearly a humble lady, who has been through her own set of difficulties throughout her life and has embraced the Paul Sartori Foundation and been a loyal volunteer.

“Volunteers like these are hard to replace, so we will miss her dearly,” said Sandra Dade, charity manager of the foundation. “The foundation has been very fortunate to have had Gwyneth’s involvement over the years, especially given her work and other community commitments. Our shops and fundraising efforts would not be as embedded in the community without her local knowledge, drive and passion.”

Charles Clewett, chair on behalf of the Paul Sartori Foundation, said: “The volunteers are the backbone of the charity of which Gwyneth has been an exemplary leader and ambassador for the charity.”

The services provided by the Paul Sartori Foundation are free of charge, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and enable people who are living in the later stages of life to die at home if that is their wish. With dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear.

Further information on the charity, please visit www.paulsartori.org, or phone 01437 763223.