Santa Issues Urgent Plea!

Santa has sent out an urgent plea for elves to gather their glitter to help him to provide the sparkling support needed to care for youngsters and their families over the festive period.

Elves, big and small, are being encouraged to grab their glitter and find their finest festive clothes to take part in an Elf Walk and Run in aid of Gwent-based St David’s Hospice Care.

The Elf event, for the second year running is being sponsored by Western Power Distribution (WPD) and supported by Llanyrafon Manor, takes place on Saturday, November 24, at Llanyrafon Manor and North and South Fields, in Cwmbran.

The popular annual charity event is also being supported by Lylac Ridge Farm and Marble the Reindeer.

Karen Welch, from WPD, gathered with Marble the reindeer and other festive fun lovers at Lylac Ridge Farm to help launch this year’s event.

Good for your elf: WPD’s Karen Welch, (right) leads Rudolf the reindeer at Lylac Ridge Farm with Franca Nigro of St David’s Hospice, (next left) and other elfish supporters.

Karen said: “As long standing supporters of St David’s Hospice Care we were delighted to once more be invited to sponsor the Elf Walk and Run.  We know it will help to raise vital funds for the charity in a really fun and enjoyable way.

“St David’s Hospice Care is a fantastic charity and I would encourage local people and businesses to get behind this event and help raise a bumper amount of money to support the fantastic work that they do seven days a week, 365 days a year though out our community.”

Elf in chief and event organiser Franca Nigro, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “Money raised from the event will help to fund support children our “Unicorn “service over Christmas, supporting children who have lost a special person and also care for patients.

“Fitness is not essential; all that’s required is fancy dress skills and a sense of “Elf” fun!!  Don’t worry, all “Elf” and safety is taken care of.

“Participants, including pets, can join in the Christmas Spirit and enter the Elf Fancy Dress Competition.  All elves will enjoy their walk or run and also the hot chocolate and cookies at the finish, as well as a certificate and medal proving you are Santa’s helper.”

Participating children can bring their letter to Santa and place them in a special letter box.

Registration is from 10 am; start time: 11.00am at Llanyrafon Manor. Entry fee:  Family deal £25.00 (2ad, 2ch - under 16), Adult £10.  Child £5. - under 16.  Free entry for children under three.

The Elf Walk/Run, starts and finishes at Llanyrafon Manor. The day starts with communal singing with refreshments and glitter available from the elf store. Participants can chose from the 1.6km or 7km circular route.

For full details of how to enter the event and costs please visit http://stdavidshospicecare.org/event-details/festive-elf-event/ or call 01633 851051

As well as the new, 15 bedded in-patient unit, St David's Hospice Care provides free community-based hospice care to people with cancer or any other life threatening illness living within Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and more recently South Powys areas.

St David’s Hospice Care needs £8. million each year to provide their services. The charity receives less than 20% of this from the NHS. In order to raise much needed funds St David’s Hospice Care has 38 charity shops, a weekly lottery, and organises many fundraising events throughout the year.