CHRISTIAN AID NEWS

AROUND WALES
FROM PUDDINGS
TO PRAISES
Last winter’s edition of Christian Aid
News featured a fundraising evening in
west wales organised by two sixth-form
students to raise money for the Christian
aid east africa appeal. one of those
who supported the evening was Geraint
rees, a keen musician and local chapel
organist. over the years Geraint has
taken part in a number of ‘organathons’
to raise money for local charities, and he
was so impressed with the efforts of the
organisers of ‘Pwdin a Phaned’, that he
decided the time was ripe to do another
one for Christian aid.
‘i have supported Christian aid through
the chapel for many years,’ says Geraint,
‘but had never done anything myself
to raise money for it. when i saw what
these two young girls had achieved, i
felt that this was my opportunity to do
something myself.’
the organathon took place on
saturday 7 July from 10am-6pm, at
rama Chapel near Carmarthen. Geraint
played the organ for eight hours, with
a friend stepping in to allow him the
occasional comfort break.
‘i played my favourite music and
Geraint Rees’
‘organathon’ raised
more than £1,100
pieces that i was familiar with, and that i
knew people who called in would enjoy.
Mostly hymns, but also other popular
works,’ he says.
‘i teach a number of local children and
young people to sing and had arranged
for them to take part as soloists and in
groups. i had also invited other people i
know to come along and take part during
the day, and of course people who came
to listen joined in with the hymns and
songs they knew. we are fortunate to
have a lot of local talent, which added
some variety to the programme.’
‘i think that what impressed me most
was the fact that people were coming in
throughout the day. some would stay
for one or two items, while others were
there for a long time. indeed, at one time
in the afternoon, i counted at least 50
people in the little chapel joining in with
some of their favourite hymns!’
with sponsorship signed up
beforehand and donations during the
day and after the event, the organathon
has already raised more than £1,100,
which just goes to show how one good
idea can spark off others.
Alun Lenny
BAGS FOR LIFE
Christian aid in
waLes is pleased
to announce a
partnership with
Merched y wawr (the
leading welsh-language
organisation for women
in wales) in a project for 2012/13,
Beth am Gyfrannu – BaG (why not
contribute a bag).
during the year, members of the
organisation will contribute and
collect bags of all sizes, and for all
uses and occasions, for Christian aid,
culminating in a bag fashion show
and grand bag sale at the national
eisteddfod in denbigh in august 2013.
in the past, Merched y wawr has
taken part in two similar projects with
other charities, collecting bras and
shoes, both of which proved to be
very successful.
Merched y wawr hopes to persuade
some prominent and well-known
women in welsh media, politics and
public life to contribute a bag, and
will also approach some of its other
partner organisations to take part in
the project. in addition, it is inviting
members of the public to donate
a bag.
all bags will be stored at the
Merched y wawr headquarters in
aberystwyth, and no bag will go to
waste. any deemed not good enough
for the sale will be sold to a bag
recycling company.
Merched y wawr president Gill
Griffiths said that she is ‘very pleased
to be working with Christian aid’, and
that the idea of contributing a bag
has already ‘fired the imagination
of members’. there are, for
example, plans to have a short story
competition using the bag theme.
she also felt that it was appropriate
that ‘the money raised from the
sale will go towards some of the
many Christian aid partner projects
supporting women in the poorest
countries.’
it is hoped that Gill will be able to
travel to see some of these projects
during the year in order to promote
the appeal with Merched y wawr’s
local groups around wales.
24 Christian Aid News