Hope by the Bucketful
We have posted events for A Bucketful Of Hope but only recently had the pleasure of meeting the folks who give their time and energy to this lively charity.
It was started by Adam Evan Thomas following his diagnosis of leukaemia 25 years ago. Adam wanted to ‘give back’ to Withybush Hospital and the staff who looked after him for the 10 years of his illness. His fundraising for the Pembrokeshire Haematology and Oncology Day Unit was completed in December 2017.
Since then friends and family have continued with the valuable work and the centre offers emotional support for patients and their carers with activities, trips, parties, complementary therapies, beauty treatments, podiatry and counselling.
We spoke to a number of volunteers in front of a table groaning with food at their recent open day. The centre is in Havefordwest and boasts a café, a charity shop, meeting rooms, therapy space, counselling and a bridal room with gorgeous gowns. The therapies here are also available for the public.
A number of therapists offer their time and skill at the centre. Most of the volunteers I spoke with have had their own encounter with cancer, either personally or while supporting a friend or family member.
There’s a great atmosphere at the centre, bustling and joyful with helpful volunteers in abundance, and it’s not surprising, with all this enthusiasm, that the charity feels it’s time to expand its reach.
The open day held recently was to let people know about the future plans for the charity. It has an agreement with Pembrokeshire County Council, in principle, for a community asset transfer of Foley House, which is a listed building in Havefordwest . It’s a big project which is at the first stages of what will be at least a two-year project and will cost around £2.5 million, but the benefits to the community are potentially enormous.
The charity is seeking new supporters and particularly needs people with experience in finance, law, management, communications and public relations who can commit to monthly meetings while the project develops.
We will be writing soon about Foley House and the plans that A Bucketful Of Hope has for bringing this magnificent building back into a life of service for the community.
