Welsh National Lottery Winners Bring Festive Cheer to
City Hospice
A group of Welsh National Lottery winners have donned their festive finest and broken out the ribbons and wrapping to bring some early Christmas cheer to City Hospice
The team, codenamed ‘Operation Snowball’, comprised of winners from across the region, who joined forces to create Christmas hampers in their own homes, to comply with current restrictions, while simultaneously spreading some seasonal goodwill.
The National Lottery winners included Julie Amphlett, from Port Talbot, one of the infamous Catering Girls syndicate who scooped £24.47M in 2017, and Richard and Faye Davies from Brecon who won £1M in 2018.
The winners created hampers packed with goodies for the 50 strong team at Cardiff City Hospice who work tirelessly to care for terminally ill patients in their own homes. When the pandemic hit earlier this year, the hospice staff found themselves facing unprecedented additional pressure, while balancing the risks associated with Covid-19.
Julie said:
“Having worked in a hospital for many years, I have seen first-hand the pressure that carers and healthcare staff are under, day in, day out and that is before you factor in the additional stress of a global pandemic. To be able to do something to say ‘thank you’ to the team at City Hospice who have done their absolute best in the most difficult of circumstances is a privilege.
“I hope that after an incredibly difficult year, we are giving them a little treat to show how much they are appreciated.”
Also joining the festive task force were some of the region’s other big Lotto winners, including Geraldine and Chris Bradley from Carmarthen whose Grandfather Bob won £3.6M in 2006, and 2015 winners Matt Evans from Barry who won £2.6M and Davinia and Jeff Pritchard also from Carmarthen who won £1M.
The hampers, after being quarantined, were delivered to City Hospice in Whitchurch by Matt Evans who is looking forward to his first Christmas with his new son, who was born in Cardiff in June.
Matt and Hollie Evans
City Hospice has previously received a number of National Lottery grants over the years, including £10,000 of funding towards our Patient MiniBus Fund in January 2019.
Liz Andrews, CEO at City Hospice, told us:
“Everyone has faced their own unique challenges this year, and we are extremely proud to have maintained our essential services throughout the pandemic. Our staff work tirelessly so that people at the end of their lives are treated with the care and respect they deserve.
The team are honoured to have been chosen by National Lottery winners to receive these beautiful festive hampers, they will certainly bring some cheer at the end of a very tough year.”
Stevie Jones, Clinical Nurse Specialist who received the hampers on behalf of the team explains:
” I am proud to be a nurse at City Hospice and this treat is a lovely surprise as we reach the end of what has been a difficult year. Thank you so much”.
