SANTA made special early visits to children spending Christmas at the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran.
Newport based charity Dreams and Wishes organised for Santa Claus, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and the Queen’s Dragoon Guards to gift presents to children in the paediatric ward of the hospital.
Dreams and wishes loaded a truck full of gifts, that their volunteers started wrapping back in January, to take to hospitals across South East and South West Wales.
Chairman Tony Curtis, 67, founded the charity 13 years ago, but has been doing charity work for more than 38 years.
Tony said: “It was beautiful to see lots of smiles on the children’s faces, as that is what this charity is all about.
“We started at around 8am and travelled, with Santa and his helpers, to hospitals across South Wales including Morriston in Swansea, the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran, The Heath in Cardiff and Velindre.
“Santa gave presents to all the children as well as the nurses at the Grange.
(Image: Dreams and Wishes) “It is one of our favourite hospitals to go to because we get such a fabulous welcome from the children and staff.”
Dreams and Wishes is unlike most charities as every single person is a volunteer – no one receives a wage. Every penny that is donated to the charity, goes straight to the children.
The charity support and offer help to children with serious illnesses of any kind, they have no criteria.
Not only do they help the children, but also the families, by arranging trips to places such as the West Midlands Safari Park.
“We are not a one-wish charity,” Tony said.
“If a child’s prognosis is not looking good, we will grant them two, three, four, five of their wishes, and make sure their families are included in them too.
“We can do this thanks to the support we receive.
“A special mention should go out to a Gwent woman called Sarah Griffiths.
“Sarah’s daughter Daisy lost her fight to cancer and ever since Sarah has raised more than £100,000 for Dreams and Wishes. She is an amazing person.”
Daisy Wyatt was aged 14 when she died from Ewing sarcoma in 2017, which is a rare form of bone cancer.
To support the charity, and the amazing work they do throughout the year, not just at Christmas, you can donate to their Just Giving page, here.