As Bronglais Chemo Appeal gathers momentum in 2022, Hywel Dda Health Charities is appealing for the support of communities across Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Powys to help achieve the appeal’s £500,000 target.

If your new year resolution is to get fit, why not consider undertaking a sporting challenge in aid of the appeal? The charity is offering places in several events during 2022.

Or what about getting sponsored to do a challenge at home?

From virtual coffee mornings, to quizzes and bake-offs, Hywel Dda Health Charities has lots of ideas to help you fundraise.

Bridget Harpwood, fundraising officer for the charity, said: “As the new year starts, lots of us will be focusing on ‘new year, new you’ and thinking about training for a sporting or get-fit challenge.

“It would be great if people would consider raising funds for our Bronglais Chemo Appeal while taking up their new year’s resolutions.

“Hywel Dda Health Charities has limited charity places in several challenge events this year, and we also have lots of fun and creative ideas on how to fundraise in our Virtual Fundraising Pack.

“Over 60 people a week receive vital anti-cancer treatment at Bronglais Hospital, a total of around 300 people a year from across Ceredigion, Gwynedd and Powys.

“Every penny raised will make a real difference to our appeal for a purpose-built chemotherapy day unit, a fit-for-the-future unit to improve the patient experience.”

Hywel Dda Health Charities has charity places in the Long Course Wales Weekend in Tenby in July and the Cardiff Half Marathon in March and October.

Long Course Weekend takes place in Tenby in the first weekend in July and the charity can offer limited spaces for the Wales Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k or 5k on the Sunday; the Wales Sportive, with 40-mile, 70-mile or 112-mile options on the Saturday; and the Wales Swim and LCW Kinder children’s event on the Friday. The charity also has places in the two Cardiff Half-Marathons, which take place in March and October 2022.

If you would like to sign up for any of these events to raise money for Bronglais Chemo Appeal, contact the team on [email protected] or ring 01970 613881.

If you would rather fundraise in your home area, then the charity’s website www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk has lots of ideas and information.

Bridget added: “Is your new year’s resolution to do more exercise or lose weight? Why not embark on a bike ride, pledge to walk or run a number of miles in January, or you could do some push-ups? If you invite your family and friends to sponsor you, you could help us make a real difference to cancer patients through our Bronglais Chemo Appeal. What about having a spring clean and holding an online auction to raise money for the appeal?

You could hold a virtual film night or quiz – the fundraising ideas are endless.”

Plans have been approved by Hywel Dda University Health Board for the chemotherapy unit to remain at its current location and for the footprint of the unit to be extended and fully refurbished.

Now that the scheme has been approved, the aim is for construction to start on the new unit in February 2023. But the final £500,000 needs to be raised for this to happen. To donate go to www.bit.ly/BronglaisChemoAppeal

For more information, visit the fundraising appeal webpage and set up an online fundraising page at www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk