Rugby stars tackle Three Peaks for children"s charity

Rugby legend Colin Charvis was part of a Welsh Heroes Team which tackled the GE Aviation Wales Welsh Three Peaks Challenge in aid of Ty Hafan.

Colin joined former Wales international and Cardiff Blues player Rhys Williams, Mark Jones, a former Wales international and Scarlets winger along with Duane Goodfield, a former Cardiff Blues and Gwent Dragons player for the event, sponsored by GE Aviation Wales.

But according to Colin, the real heroes are the children and families supported by Ty Hafan.

During a visit to Ty Hafan, Colin and the team were shown around the hospice and the former Wales and British and Irish Lions player shared a special bond with two-year-old Willow Matthews from Ystrad, Rhondda.

“Willow and her family face so many challenges every day,” said Colin. “It is a small ask for the rest of us to step up to a challenge once in a while to support these very special people. It was so humbling to spend time at Ty Hafan. It is such a fantastic cause doing amazing things for families across Wales.”

Colin Charvis with Willow Matthews at Ty Hafan

 

Two special dads’ teams, called Team Wolfcow and Team Buwch Blaidd, also took part in the challenge. The teams included bereaved fathers and dads whose children are currently supported by Ty Hafan.

Brad Watson’s son, Archie, sadly died at the hospice last year. Brad, from Caerphilly, who has recently become a Ty Hafan family ambassador, is a key member of the Ty Hafan Dads’ group.

He said: “Why did I undertake this challenge? Probably, for the same reason that my fellow dads climb these mountains. For our special kids, here and above, who give us the motivation to undertake such an endurance that sometimes may be inferior to challenges that we’ve faced as special dads, and we give back to a charity that does so much for our families.”

Mair Jeffreys, marketing and events officer at Ty Hafan, said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the participants, volunteers and GE Aviation Wales for kindly sponsoring the event. It was wonderful to have the Welsh Heroes Team on board and we’re now really looking forward to our next event, which will be our West Wales Rainbow Run in September.”

Ty Hafan would like to thank Brecon Carreg, 9Bar, Braces Bakery, Just Perfect Catering , Euro Commercials, L’oreal and Paul Fears Photography for also supporting the event.  

The challenge, which took place during Children’s Hospice Week, (June 13 to 20) and saw 64 teams from across Wales taking part to raise vital funds for Ty Hafan.

The event is expected to raise more than £70,000 for Ty Hafan, which needs to raise £3.7m each year to run its services.

To find out about Ty Hafan’s calendar of events, please visit wwww.tyhafan.org  and to read Brad Watson’s blog about his journey visit archiesdad.wordpress.com

Article source: http://www.thedrum.com/news/2014/01/28/canterbury-new-zealand-announced-irish-rugby-football-union-kit-sponsor-until-2020

Rugby stars tackle Three Peaks for children"s charity