Last Tuesday, SI Tenby and District president Elanor Sanderson was delighted to welcome Priscilla Bowden as guest speaker at the monthly business meeting at the Giltar Hotel. Priscilla is the West Wales business and community fundraiser for Ty Hafan. She gave a most informative and moving insight into the work of this unique charity.

Approximately 60 children are born every year in Wales with life-limiting illnesses. Ty Hafan offers comfort, care and respite for these children and their families. The Hospice is in Sully and is a very happy, uplifting and inspirational place. It also offers support groups for siblings, dads and mums. Ty Hafan is committed to being more than a hospice and reaches right into the heart of the family home. This care is given completely free of charge to the families in Wales who need it.

The charity was founded by Suzanne Goodall who spearheaded a fundraising campaign that lasted 11 years and, in 1999, Ty Hafan finally opened its doors. Suzanne, from Beddau near Pontypridd, continued to play an active role in Ty Hafan until her retirement at ninety in 2011. She is a remarkable lady who has helped hundreds of life-limited children, young people and their families across Wales through the charity she started - Ty Hafan. Since 1999, the charity has helped over 400 families, providing palliative care, relief and support within the hospice, at home and in the community to ensure that each child has a comprehensive care programme.

It costs three million pounds a year to run Ty Hafan. There is much celebrity support for the Hospice; for example, the Cardiff Devils, the Welsh rugby squad and Welsh media personalities. In addition, a number of charity events take place throughout the year, including family fun day, midnight sleepwalk, Taff Trail Cycle Ride and chef's night out, as well as numerous local events such as those organised by SI Tenby. There are always on-going projects to help improve facilities - at present they are refurbishing the play area and improving the communal kitchen.

Priscilla concluded her talk with the following statement: 'Ty Hafan is delighted to be supported by Soroptimist International, Tenby - an inspirational group who take action for positive change for women and girls worldwide. It is a pleasure working together and we are very much looking forward to future fundraising events in aid of Ty Hafan, the family hospice for young lives'. President Elanor Sanderson then thanked Priscilla for her enlightening talk. Thanks were also extended to Patrick, Malcolm and their staff at the Giltar Hotel yet again for the excellent venue and warm welcome.

SI Tenby is holding a concert featuring Tenby Male Voice Choir, at 7.30 pm, on August 1, at St. Mary's Church, in aid of Ty Hafan, The club looks forward to your support for this very worthwhile charity.