Latest news with #Angharad
Western Telegraph
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Llangwm Literary Festival to put children centre stage
Llangwm Literary Festival, taking place in Pembrokeshire from August 8 to 10, will feature a packed programme of events designed to inspire and engage young readers, including storytelling, workshops and interactive experiences led by acclaimed authors and educators. Michael Pugh, director of the festival, said: "We have more events for children at the litfest this year. "We have not had to look far to find amazing Welsh writers for our children's events." The festival will open with a session led by retired schoolteacher John Roach on the origins of the Welsh Red Dragon, blending history with hands-on writing and craft activities. Mr Pugh said: "This is a multi-layered session to develop children's understanding of their own history, but also to develop their creative skills through writing and craft." Returning by popular demand is Cardiff-based author Jack Meggitt-Phillips, whose internationally translated book The Beast and The Bethany is set to be adapted for film. Mr Meggitt-Phillips will lead a creative writing workshop for children and a community session on Sunday, August 10, exploring what it takes to succeed as a children's author. Saturday's line-up includes a philosophy, storytelling and art session led by Beth Mackintosh and best-selling nature writer Gill Lewis. The Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park team will also make their festival debut, offering children immersive activities inside a biofluorescence dome. Mr Pugh said: "It's the closest you get to visiting another planet." In the afternoon, Juliane von Reppert-Bismarck, founder of Lie Detectors, will lead a session on media literacy, helping children spot misinformation and understand the risks of mobile technology. Family-friendly events include foraging sessions with Really Wild Julia, a talk on preserves by Angharad, and Ryan's Triple C project, which looks at removing barriers to participation. The festival will conclude with a talk from Pembrokeshire's Cruising Free Rowing team, who will share stories from their recent transatlantic journey. This year, Llangwm Literary Festival is also offering internships for students interested in gaining experience behind the scenes at an arts event. The festival runs from August 8 to 10 in the village of Llangwm, Pembrokeshire. For more information, visit the website or email llangwmlitfest@
South Wales Guardian
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Rhydian Jones to play tennis for 24 hours for charity
Rhydian Jones, from Llandybie, Carmarthenshire, will take on 24 hours of non-stop tennis followed by the Cardiff Half Marathon. He hopes to raise £1,200 for the Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity, which supported his wife Angharad throughout her cancer treatment. In 2023, five months after their wedding, the couple received the devastating news that Angharad had Hodgkin's lymphoma. The charity provided them with grants and personal support during this difficult time and Angharad is now in remission. They also showed their support by sending pyjamas for their young daughter Mabli. Read more Rhydian is determined to give back to ensure other families receive the same care and kindness. Mr Jones said: "In 2023, just five months after our incredible wedding, we were dealt the most devastating news — Angharad had cancer. "A word that brings fear and uncertainty. "But today, I am beyond grateful to say: Angharad is one year in remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma." In an emotional message on his JustGiving page, Mr Jones expressed his gratitude to the Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity for their support during Angharad's treatment. He said: "The Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity was one of the first charities to offer us support while Angharad was receiving treatment. "Eirlys, in particular, gave a personal touch when checking in on Angharad, and made sure she and our little girl, Mabli, were okay." Mr Jones will start his gruelling challenge at Llandybie Tennis Courts, where he will play tennis continuously for 24 hours starting at 12pm on August 9. He will then tackle the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 5. Mr Jones admitted that the challenge will be "physically and mentally demanding" but said he is "genuinely excited" to take it on. He said: "As most of you know, I'm not much of a runner, but I know the pain I'll face is nothing compared to what Angharad and other cancer patients have to endure. "Every donation, no matter how small, helps provide support to individuals and families who are on their cancer journey." The couple hopes their fundraising effort will help the charity continue to provide support to young adults in Wales who are fighting cancer. Mr Jones added: "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your support — whether through a donation or simply sharing this page. "Together, we can help give the Sir Gareth Edwards Cancer Charity the recognition it deserves, and support families across Wales for many years to come."
Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I was perfectly healthy - now mystery condition grinds my joints'
Angharad Brawn, 30, has been wheelchair-bound since childhood due to a mystery degenerative condition, which has left her with a curved spine and needing a hip replacement Angharad Brawn, a 30-year-old woman from the village of Ynysddu in South Wales, has been wheelchair-bound since childhood due to an undiagnosed degenerative condition that causes her joints to "grind together". She uses painting as a means to distract herself from the chronic pain. Born "perfectly healthy", Angharad began experiencing leg aches at the age of five, which progressively worsened throughout her childhood. By the time she finished primary school, she was reliant on a wheelchair, and her health continued to decline, leading to scoliosis and necessitating a hip replacement at just 18 years old. Despite undergoing genetic testing, where her symptoms were compared to a rare genetic disorder, Angharad's condition didn't perfectly match, leaving her without an official diagnosis. Her condition causes severe pain in most of her joints, to the point where she can "literally feel (her) bones grinding together". Unable to walk or stand, she relies on a motorised wheelchair for mobility. The future progression of her condition remains uncertain, with recent "scary" developments affecting her speech and swallowing abilities. However, over the past two years, she has found solace in painting, which she says has helped her "rediscover (her) love of painting" and provides a welcome distraction from her pain. Committed to her autonomy, Angharad has self-published a children's book inspired by her own story, regularly vending her creative works at craft fairs and through her personal website, in addition to engaging thousands of TikTok enthusiasts with her artistic talents. "I've never had an official diagnosis, all the geneticists I've seen have basically said they have never seen anything like the symptoms I have," Angharad said. "Being in pain is draining but there's nothing that can be done about it, I've just got to get on with it. "My art really helps as it means I have to focus on something else, my bungalow has normally got different projects I'm working on all over it, so I've always got some sort of distraction at hand." Angharad, who was born without apparent health issues, began feeling leg "aches" when she was around five years old. "By the time I was seven, it was more obvious I was struggling," she recalled. "I started not being able to do things, like riding a bike." She revealed that after being referred to an orthopaedic consultant, it was initially suspected that she suffered from Myhre syndrome – an incredibly uncommon genetic condition. Dissatisfied with the initial assessments, her mother, Deborah Gordon, insisted on further opinions, leading Angharad to undergo numerous tests, trialling diverse pain relief remedies and pursuing physiotherapy within a community care framework. By nine years of age, Angharad resorted to crutches and had transitioned to full-time wheelchair use by the close of her primary education, ultimately taking to a motorised wheelchair at 14 to maintain her self-sufficiency. Angharad's medical journey began when her consultants were unable to pinpoint a specific ailment, leading to a referral to a geneticist at the age of 18. Following numerous consultations and blood tests, Angharad shared that her symptoms bore resemblance to Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS), an uncommon genetic disorder impacting muscle function and bone development. However, for a definitive SJS diagnosis, Angharad would need to exhibit eight particular chromosomal abnormalities; she only has two, leaving her without a formal diagnosis. Her condition, which is degenerative and "slowly getting worse over time", compromises not just her bones but also her muscles and tendons, resulting in myotonia muscle spasms that prevent them from fully relaxing. "What's particularly scary is that I am now having problems with my speech and my swallowing," Angharad said. She also mentioned that her condition causes a "distortion" of her skeleton, including scoliosis—a spinal curvature—which necessitated the insertion of metal rods in her spine at 16 years old. At 18, Angharad underwent hip replacement surgery to alleviate some of her discomfort. Speaking about her chronic pain, she described experiencing "good days and bad days". "I get pain in most of my joints, but especially in my right hip, back and shoulders," she explained. "It is really tiring and, in most of my joints, I can literally feel my bones grinding together." In August 2019, Angharad was offered a bungalow by Caerphilly Council, where she now resides alone, with a team of carers visiting her in the mornings and evenings. Unable to walk or stand, Angharad utilises a ceiling hoist to assist her in moving from her bed to her wheelchair or shower chair. "I normally describe myself as stubbornly independent, I will always try and do something myself before asking for help," she said. "We've managed to set up my care in a way that is really flexible, so some days I may need less help." Angharad revealed that she had always dreamt of becoming a jewellery designer and attended the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University. However, her deteriorating hand function led her to switch paths and pursue art instead. She now concentrates on painting animals, particularly birds, which are her favourite. Currently, she is working on filling a sketchbook with various bird species. "I'm right-handed, but my right hand has always been my worse hand, so I've had to learn to paint and write with my left," she said. "My hands can also be shaky and I get a lot of muscle spasms. I think that's why I prefer painting animals, they normally don't have smooth edges, so it doesn't really matter if my hands shake a bit." Angharad continually finds ways to work around her disability in creating her art, selling it at local fairs and through her website, Her TikTok page has become a platform to showcase her art as well, earning a "really supportive" following of more than 12,000. In addition to her visual art, Angharad authored, illustrated, and self-published a children's picture book named The Wobbly Penguin. The narrative draws from her personal experience with a degenerative condition during her formative years. Although the future trajectory of her condition remains uncertain—potentially necessitating increased support and a speech aid should her verbal communication decline—Angharad remains optimistic. "I just want to show that even though someone may have a very obvious physically disabling condition, they're still fighting to be as independent as they can be," she said.
Wales Online
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain
Woman's mystery condition 'grinds joints together' - one thing distracts from the pain Angharad Brawn first experienced pain at the age of five Angharad describes herself as 'stubbornly independent' (Image: PA Real Life ) A 30-year-old wheelchair-bound since childhood by a mystery degenerative condition which causes her joints to 'grind together' has said she paints to distract herself from her chronic pain. Angharad Brawn, based in the village of Ynysddu in South Wales, said she was born 'perfectly healthy', but from the age of five she started to experience aches in her legs which worsened throughout her childhood. By the end of primary school, she needed a wheelchair and her condition continued to worsen, to the point where she developed scoliosis and needed a hip replacement at 18. Angharad underwent genetic testing where her symptoms were likened to a rare genetic disorder – but as she was not a direct match, she has been left without an official diagnosis. Since her youth, Angharad has been experiencing pains in most of her joints due to her condition, where she can 'literally feel (her) bones grinding together', and she uses a motorised wheelchair to move as she cannot walk or stand. Angharad says she has 'no idea' how her condition will deteriorate in the future, with her latest 'scary' struggles impacting her speech and ability to swallow – but over the last two years, she has 'rediscovered (her) love of painting' to provide a distraction from her pain. Article continues below Determined to remain independent, Angharad has published a children's picture book based on her experience, regularly sells her artwork at craft fairs and on her website, and showcases her creations to thousands of TikTok followers. 'I've never had an official diagnosis, all the geneticists I've seen have basically said they have never seen anything like the symptoms I have,' Angharad said. 'Being in pain is draining but there's nothing that can be done about it, I've just got to get on with it. 'My art really helps as it means I have to focus on something else, my bungalow has normally got different projects I'm working on all over it, so I've always got some sort of distraction at hand.' Born healthy, Angharad started to complain of 'aches' in her legs around the age of five. 'By the time I was seven, it was more obvious I was struggling,' she said. 'I started not being able to do things, like riding a bike.' Angharad said she was referred to an orthopaedic consultant, where it was originally thought she had Myhre syndrome – an extremely rare genetic disorder. Her mother, Deborah Gordon, pressed for a second opinion, however, and Angharad underwent several tests, tried out various pain relief medications and had physiotherapy under a community care team. At the age of nine, Angharad started using crutches, then by the end of primary school she needed a wheelchair – before eventually progressing to a motorised one for her independence at 14 years old. As Angharad's consultants could not identify a specific condition she could be suffering with, she was referred to a geneticist when she was 18. Angharad started to experience aches in her legs from the age of five (Image: PA Real Life ) After many appointments and blood tests, Angharad said her symptoms were likened to a condition called Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS), a rare genetic disorder which affects muscle function and skeletal development. For a confirmed SJS diagnosis, Angharad would need to display eight specific chromosome abnormalities, but she just has two, meaning she has been living without an official diagnosis. Angharad said her condition, which is degenerative and 'slowly getting worse over time', affects her bones but also her muscles and tendons, causing myotonia muscle spasms, meaning they never fully relax. 'What's particularly scary is that I am now having problems with my speech and my swallowing,' she said. Angharad said her condition also results in a 'distortion' of her skeleton and she has scoliosis, a curvature of the spine, which had to be corrected by metal rods implanted in her spine aged 16. She had her hip replaced at 18 years old to relieve some of her pain. Describing her chronic pain, Angharad said she has 'good days and bad days'. 'I get pain in most of my joints, but especially in my right hip, back and shoulders,' she said. 'It is really tiring and, in most of my joints, I can literally feel my bones grinding together.' Angharad needed a wheelchair by the end of primary school (Image: PA Real Life ) In August 2019, Angharad was offered a bungalow through Caerphilly Council, where she now lives on her own and a team of carers visit her in the mornings and evenings. As she cannot walk or stand, Angharad uses a hoist in the ceiling to help her get out of bed and into her wheelchair or shower chair. 'I normally describe myself as stubbornly independent, I will always try and do something myself before asking for help,' she said. 'We've managed to set up my care in a way that is really flexible, so some days I may need less help.' Angharad said she always wanted to be a jewellery designer and attended the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University, but her deteriorating hand function saw her change direction and pursue art instead. She now focuses on painting animals, with birds being her favourite, and she is currently working to fill a sketchbook with various types of birds. 'I'm right-handed, but my right hand has always been my worse hand, so I've had to learn to paint and write with my left,' she said. 'My hands can also be shaky and I get a lot of muscle spasms. I think that's why I prefer painting animals, they normally don't have smooth edges, so it doesn't really matter if my hands shake a bit.' Angharad is currently working on filling a sketchbook with various types of birds (Image: TikTok/PA Real Life ) Angharad said she has to work around her disability in order to produce her artwork – which she sells at local craft fairs and on her website, Angharad has also showcased her artwork on her TikTok page, where she has found a 'really supportive' community with more than 12,000 followers. She has also written, illustrated and self-published a children's picture book, titled The Wobbly Penguin, which is based on her experience growing up with a degenerative condition. While Angharad said she does not know what the future holds for her condition, estimating she will need more support and potentially a speaking device if her speech continues to be impacted, she remains positive. Article continues below 'I just want to show that even though someone may have a very obvious physically disabling condition, they're still fighting to be as independent as they can be,' she said.
Business News Wales
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business News Wales
Eisteddfod yr Urdd 2025 Chair and Crown Unveiled
The Chair and Crown for Eisteddfod yr Urdd Dur a Môr 2025 were unveiled during a special evening at The Towers, Swansea. Angharad Pearce Jones from the Brynaman area has designed and created the Chair, sponsored by Soar-Maesyrhaf Chapel. Nicola Palterman from Neath has created the Crown, sponsored by primary schools in the West Glamorgan Region. Some of the final pieces of steel from Tata Steel's works were used in the designs of the two prizes, paying tribute to the local industrial heritage of this year's Eisteddfod yr Urdd, which will be held at Margam Park, Port Talbot. 'Creating this year's chair has been a wonderful privilege and a dream come true. It's something that's been on my wish list for many years,' says Angharad Pearce Jones, the award-winning artist who is originally from Y Bala, but who has lived in the Brynaman area for 20 years. The chair is inspired by the local steel works and industry, and a combination of the Welsh steel and flat steel produced in Port Talbot was used to create it. Angharad was given a guided tour of the Tata Steel site and saw parts that were not visible from the main road, such as countless pipes, and these parts can be seen on the finished chair. 'I'm lucky that I had the last piece of Welsh iron ore from Tata's works for the chair, and I was determined to create a chair that felt positive – a celebration rather than a sad symbol of the past. My intention was to create a contemporary and appealing chair for the young person who will hopefully win it. I want them to be able to enjoy the chair forever.' Angharad won the gold medal for fine art at the 2024 National Eisteddfod at Rhondda Cynon Taf, and she's currently designing a permanent sculpture for the site of the Ruthin Craft Centre. The chair is sponsored by the Soar-Maesyrhaf Chapel, Neath. Angharad visited this Welsh chapel while researching the history and the building for further inspiration: 'Remarkably, the woodwork and the red and cream colours of the steelworks' pipes were similar to the chapel's colours. There was a strong sense of correlation between the two sites. Many of the Welsh-speaking people who used to attend the chapel were also employed in the steelworks, and the chapel will be reflected in the design as well. 'I had a lot of fun and success competing on the Urdd stage with school choirs in Y Bala. Our school won the choir competition five years in a row. We were famous and we released a CD. I've competed in gymnastics, on the piano and as a soloist, and my daughter has just competed in the Urdd's rugby 7s competition. We owe a great debt to the Urdd.' This year's crown is sponsored by the primary schools of the West Glamorgan Region. They were looking for someone local to create the crown and Nicola Palterman jumped at the opportunity when asked. 'I've had several interesting design commissions over the years, from wedding rings to prizes such as the Prince William Cup, but this is the first crown,' explains the luxury jewellery designer. 'My business partner, Laura Thomas, has designed a crown for the National Eisteddfod in the past, and now I've had the opportunity to design a crown for Eisteddfod yr Urdd.' Born and bred in Neath, Nicola went on to study at the Birmingham School of Jewellery before being offered a job as a luxury jewellery designer at Aur Cymru, Dolgellau. She set up her own jewellery shop in Dolgellau 30 years ago, before deciding to establish a business back in her hometown. After sharing a studio and workshop with local jeweller Laura Thomas, the pair decided to merge their businesses and create 'Jewel and Grace' eighteen months ago. In discussions with the sponsors and the local committee, everyone agreed that the culture and history of the area needed to be reflected in the design: 'I wanted the design to be based on the steel and sea theme. The waves of the coastal landscape in the Aberavon area can be seen, while the birds are a strong symbol in this year's Welcome Song and offer much hope for the future. But the design also recognises the importance of the steel industry, which has been the lifeblood of people over the years. 'The material is a striking combination of the 'young', shiny silver; tin coated with a layer of local steel from Tata's works; and blue velvet that represents the maritime element on the cap. I've also added small blue diamonds to introduce an element of luxury that has been a hallmark of my work over the years. I think it's the first time ever that the Eisteddfod yr Urdd crown contains diamonds.' The Chairing ceremony will be held on the Thursday of the Eisteddfod, sponsored by the Ivor and Aeres Evans Trust. The Crowning ceremony will take place on the Friday of the festival, sponsored by Cardiff University. The Urdd also thanks the following for sponsoring the festival's other main Medals and ceremonies: Monday: The Art, Design and Technology Medal and the Young Artist Scholarship's ceremony is sponsored by Cronfa Elw William Park Jones. Tuesday: The Drama Medal is sponsored by Cymdeithas Ddrama Gymraeg Abertawe. Wednesday: The Welsh Learners Medal is sponsored by Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Region and the Bobi Jones Medal by Tŷ'r Gwrhyd, with the ceremony sponsored by the National Centre for Learning Welsh. Saturday: The Chief Composer Medal is sponsored by local choirs, namely Parti Llwchwr, Morriston RFC Male Voice Choir, Dunvant Male Voice Choir, Swansea Philharmonic Choir, Ospreys Choir, Côr Nedd.
