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North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Anglesey: Girl, 4, inspires Tŷ Gobaith hospice campaign
Alaw Evan, from Llanfairpwll, features in a summer appeal for Tŷ Gobaith children's hospice, which has raised more than £60,000 in just a few weeks. Alaw's face has appeared on the front of envelopes delivered to 32,000 homes since the start of May, with her parents, Ffion and Barry, sharing their story. Ffion said: "Those teeny tiny steps where Alaw is doing something really well, something we never thought we would see. Alaw's face has appeared on the front of envelopes delivered to 32,000 homes since the start of May (Image: Russell Davies Photography) "Alaw isn't able to sit up unaided, she doesn't crawl, she doesn't walk, she doesn't stand without the support of a frame but she has the most contagious giggle ever." Alaw was born on Valentine's Day and sustained a brain injury, due to lack of oxygen, after her mother developed HELLP syndrome, a rare and life-threatening pregnancy condition. Ffion was not able to meet her Alaw until five days after giving birth. Barry said: "They were both fighting for their lives and we were being told to expect the worst. READ MORE: Official opening event is held for a new basketball court on Anglesey Gwynedd museum re-opens following £280,000 makeover "But Alaw was a little fighter, and after five days Ffion was able to have her bed wheeled to Neonatal Intensive Care to meet her too." Alaw was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and dystonia. After spending six months in Alder Hey Hospital, a paediatrician recommended the family consider respite care at Tŷ Gobaith. Ffion said: "We went to visit in springtime last year and I remember stepping outside in the car park and just feeling completely overwhelmed by how beautiful the setting was." Mr Evan recently raised money for the hospice by abseiling down the Anglesey Column (Image: Supplied) She added: "We went inside and everybody was making a fuss of Alaw and she was loving it. "The first time we left her overnight was massive for us but it felt like a safe place and I'm not just talking about the nurses, I'm talking about the housekeepers and the kitchen staff and how everybody knows everything that is going on there and how everyone is involved in Alaw's care like one big family." Barry recently raised money for the hospice by abseiling down the Anglesey Column on May 17. He said: "We are so excited about this next chapter in our lives where we can just be parents to Alaw and our baby Caio, and with the help of Tŷ Gobaith that is happening more and more often." You can find out more about Alaw's campaign by visiting
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Health
- Wales Online
Little Alaw can't sit, crawl or walk but she's got something that melts everyone's hearts
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info From the moment she was born, Alaw Evans has been a "little fighter". When mum Ffion developed a rare pregnancy condition, a lack of oxygen left her with a catastrophic brain injury. After the birth, on Valentine's Day, dad Barry was warned both his wife and daughter might not survive. Alaw was placed into neonatal intensive care and it was five days before Ffion was well enough to be wheeled to the unit to meet her. Even when the pair were allowed home to Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, Alaw's battles were only just starting. When she was almost two-years-old, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a muscle spasm condition called dystonia. Since then Alaw, now aged four, has fought back, her progress charted in what Ffion calls 'inchstones' – the miniature version of milestones. 'Our inchstones are what we call those little moments that for us are everything,' said Ffion. 'Those teeny tiny steps where Alaw is doing something really well, something we never thought we would see. 'Alaw isn't able to sit up unaided, she doesn't crawl, she doesn't walk and she doesn't stand without the support of a frame – but she has the most contagious giggle ever! 'She loves going on the swings, being pampered and having her curls brushed, and she loves to go swimming with the physios – last time she was so relaxed she giggled non-stop in the pool and all the way home too. For us these things are all massive.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Getting to this stage has been tough. In late pregnancy Ffion developed a condition called HELLP syndrome – this stands for (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets). Occurring in fewer than 1% of pregnancies, it's a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered a variant of preeclampsia. 'They were both fighting for their lives,' recalled Barry. 'We were being told to expect the worst. The obstetrician told us it can very often be fatal for both mum and baby, so we were extremely lucky.' Being allowed to return home was a doubled-edged sword: as the Covid pandemic was still raging, the family began to feel increasingly isolated. Alaw was often unsettled, crying incessantly and making it difficult to leave the house. With Barry needing to go to work, Ffion was up with Alaw every night. 'I was so exhausted during the day I couldn't look after her,' she recalled. 'So my mum had to come in and help. I was virtually nocturnal for those first three years and we just hit rock bottom.' When Alaw was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she spent six months in Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital to manage her condition and to relieve her constant pain. It was at this point a paediatrician suggested the family consider a respite stay at the Tŷ Gobaith children's hospice near Conwy town. From the moment the family arrived at the centre, in the spring sunshine, they were made to feel at ease. Ffion's first impression was just how beautiful the setting was. 'We went inside and everybody was making a fuss of Alaw and she was loving it,' she said. 'We were offered a cup of tea and a piece of banoffee pie and invited to sit down. Someone said, 'We'll take Alaw' - that was scary because we'd never left her with someone else as she is so medically complex. No one knew her like I knew her. 'The first time we left her overnight was massive for us but it felt like a safe place and I'm not just talking about the nurses, I'm talking about the housekeepers and the kitchen staff and how everybody knows everything that is going on there and how everyone is involved in Alaw's care like one big family. "I think they are the only people in the world who really understand what being parents to a medically complex child is all about. 'For instance the social work team is amazing and point you in the right direction if you need something. I don't have the time to do nice things such as searching for accessible family holidays we can take Alaw on, but they did that and sent me the links.' In recent weeks Alaw's face has featured on the cover of envelopes that have landed on 32,000 doormats. These contain information about Tŷ Gobaith's summer campaign, which in just a few short weeks has already raised more than £60,000. Barry has played his part, abseilling down the Anglesey Column to raise money on behalf of Alaw, who he calls his "little fighter". A new chapter has now opened for the family with the arrival of a baby boy, Caio. Continued help from the charity means Barry and Ffion are better able to focus their energies on their children. She added: 'Without Tŷ Gobaith, life would be like it was before – we would be exhausted and at rock bottom, and that isn't a nice place to be. Respite is giving us that chance to have a breather. 'When Alaw is at Ty Gobaith we get to slow down and make sure that we don't reach burn out like we used to. That makes us better parents.' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox To support Alaw's campaign, and help local children with life-threatening conditions, there's more information on the Hope House website. Find family activities near you
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Little Alaw can't sit, crawl or walk but she's got something that melts everyone's hearts
From the moment she was born, Alaw Evans has been a "little fighter". When mum Ffion developed a rare pregnancy condition, a lack of oxygen left her with a catastrophic brain injury. After the birth, on Valentine's Day, dad Barry was warned both his wife and daughter might not survive. Alaw was placed into neonatal intensive care and it was five days before Ffion was well enough to be wheeled to the unit to meet her. Even when the pair were allowed home to Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, Alaw's battles were only just starting. When she was almost two-years-old, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a muscle spasm condition called dystonia. Since then Alaw, now aged four, has fought back, her progress charted in what Ffion calls 'inchstones' – the miniature version of milestones. 'Our inchstones are what we call those little moments that for us are everything,' said Ffion. 'Those teeny tiny steps where Alaw is doing something really well, something we never thought we would see. 'Alaw isn't able to sit up unaided, she doesn't crawl, she doesn't walk and she doesn't stand without the support of a frame – but she has the most contagious giggle ever! 'She loves going on the swings, being pampered and having her curls brushed, and she loves to go swimming with the physios – last time she was so relaxed she giggled non-stop in the pool and all the way home too. For us these things are all massive.' Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now Getting to this stage has been tough. In late pregnancy Ffion developed a condition called HELLP syndrome – this stands for (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets). Occurring in fewer than 1% of pregnancies, it's a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered a variant of preeclampsia. 'They were both fighting for their lives,' recalled Barry. 'We were being told to expect the worst. The obstetrician told us it can very often be fatal for both mum and baby, so we were extremely lucky.' Being allowed to return home was a doubled-edged sword: as the Covid pandemic was still raging, the family began to feel increasingly isolated. Alaw was often unsettled, crying incessantly and making it difficult to leave the house. With Barry needing to go to work, Ffion was up with Alaw every night. 'I was so exhausted during the day I couldn't look after her,' she recalled. 'So my mum had to come in and help. I was virtually nocturnal for those first three years and we just hit rock bottom.' When Alaw was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she spent six months in Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital to manage her condition and to relieve her constant pain. It was at this point a paediatrician suggested the family consider a respite stay at the Tŷ Gobaith children's hospice near Conwy town. From the moment the family arrived at the centre, in the spring sunshine, they were made to feel at ease. Ffion's first impression was just how beautiful the setting was. 'We went inside and everybody was making a fuss of Alaw and she was loving it,' she said. 'We were offered a cup of tea and a piece of banoffee pie and invited to sit down. Someone said, 'We'll take Alaw' - that was scary because we'd never left her with someone else as she is so medically complex. No one knew her like I knew her. 'The first time we left her overnight was massive for us but it felt like a safe place and I'm not just talking about the nurses, I'm talking about the housekeepers and the kitchen staff and how everybody knows everything that is going on there and how everyone is involved in Alaw's care like one big family. "I think they are the only people in the world who really understand what being parents to a medically complex child is all about. 'For instance the social work team is amazing and point you in the right direction if you need something. I don't have the time to do nice things such as searching for accessible family holidays we can take Alaw on, but they did that and sent me the links.' In recent weeks Alaw's face has featured on the cover of envelopes that have landed on 32,000 doormats. These contain information about Tŷ Gobaith's summer campaign, which in just a few short weeks has already raised more than £60,000. Barry has played his part, abseilling down the Anglesey Column to raise money on behalf of Alaw, who he calls his "little fighter". A new chapter has now opened for the family with the arrival of a baby boy, Caio. Continued help from the charity means Barry and Ffion are better able to focus their energies on their children. She added: 'Without Tŷ Gobaith, life would be like it was before – we would be exhausted and at rock bottom, and that isn't a nice place to be. Respite is giving us that chance to have a breather. 'When Alaw is at Ty Gobaith we get to slow down and make sure that we don't reach burn out like we used to. That makes us better parents.'
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The fitness craze taking over Cardiff that everybody seems to be doing
The fitness craze taking over Cardiff that everybody seems to be doing 'We've got people in their 60s, single mums, young and old people, literally every type of person you can think of doing it.' The B42 gym in Cardiff Bay, one of the first gyms in Wales to offer Hyrox training (Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne ) Hyrox is a sporting test which has taken over social media and this weekend it's Cardiff's turn. Ben Noel, 28, and Ffion McGowan, 26, own the B42 gym in Cardiff Bay, one of the first gyms in Wales to offer Hyrox training. This weekend, they and 60 others from their gym will compete in the functional fitness event inside the hallowed walls of Cardiff's Principality Stadium: for many of them it will be their first time. Hyrox is a fitness race consisting of eight 1km runs interspersed with eight functional workout stations. The couple have each raced in four events before and have well and truly succumbed to the Hyrox bug. Speaking to Ben and Ffion, their passion for the sport and the community it fosters is clear. Despite both coming from sporty backgrounds - Ben was a national-level sprinter and Ffion competed nationally in dance - they are keen to stress that Hyrox is for everyone. Don't miss a rugby story, sign up for our newsletter . Ben explained: "We've got people in their 60s, single mums, young and old people, literally every type of person you can think of doing it. It's nice to have people of different ages and abilities jumping in. That creates the community." "Even people who haven't done a parkrun are now doing Hyrox. That feeling of nervousness before the race in the start tunnel, they're feelings you may not have experienced before and it becomes a bug." Content cannot be displayed without consent Ffion explained it's not about your time, but just doing it. "You go on social media you see big influencers doing super quick times that are crazy and then that's that's all you see but it's a very small portion. That's the top 10% or even less and that's not the ethos." Ffion explained it wasn't until the sport boomed on social media that everyone wanted to get involved. She said: "When we first started we had a Hyrox class and it was our least popular class and now it's our most popular." Ben added: "The sport and the brand has grown and people have realised it's accessible. We get 30 people at six, 30 people at seven and 30 people at half nine so it's just grown rapidly." Content cannot be displayed without consent When Ben and Ffion first raced last October, only they and one other woman at the gym had completed a Hyrox before. Ffion said as soon as she finished she knew she wanted to do it again. This January in Manchester 20 members competed, last month 30 went up to London and in Cardiff they have around 60 competing. They say it's been a knock-on effect with everyone their gym keen to support each other. Ben explained the training has being a mix of running and endurance and strength elements like pushing and pulling. With Hyrox events all over the world, the gym owners couldn't hide their excitement about it coming to Cardiff. Ffion said: "For people who can't necessarily travel to other events because of children or financial reasons, it's great for it to be on their doorstep. It just opened up a whole new gateway to new people. And people are like, yeah, I'll give it a go." The pair shared their tips for people competing in the Welsh capital this weekend. Ben said: "Enjoy every minute of it and don't worry about how you feel in a race because you will get it done through determination and willpower so keep your headstrong." Ffion added: "Make sure you fuel up and soak up every single moment of it, don't beat yourself up over a time or a station just enjoy being there and enjoy every second of it." B42 run Hyrox classes multiple times a week. You can find out more on their website. Article continues below
Business News Wales
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Artists Wanted for Multi-million Pound Mural Symbolising Rhyl's Regeneration
Artists Wanted for Multi-million Pound Mural Symbolising Rhyl's Regeneration Artist and facilitator Ffion Pritchard is appealing for up to 10 creatives from across Denbighshire to produce a mural for the Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign. Supported by Rhyl Neighbourhood Board and Balfour Beatty – which carried out the East Parade redevelopment – the vision is to showcase the history and heart of the popular Welsh resort, leaving a legacy for future generations. Currently engaging with community groups, schools, businesses and the voluntary sector, Ffion, from Bangor, believes the concrete collaboration will stand the test of time and unite people in championing the area via up to 60 pre-cast units to be installed this August. 'Each artist will be tasked with creating a panel which represents the diverse, vibrant and creative communities of Rhyl,' she said. 'In addition to this work – which will be designed then printed on durable material, such as aluminium – we will hold workshops with schools and youth clubs to help create a thriving mural trail to reflect Rhyl today, reflecting on the past and its bright future. 'We want it to capture the excitement and progress happening in the town, which is a hive of activity with so many innovators, creatives, artists and young people. 'This will be a platform for them, a unique opportunity, so we hope to see a lot of engagement and enthusiasm for the project over the coming months.' Ffion's own background is in creative media and commercial illustration, with a focus on society, health and 'the power of storytelling'. A graduate of the University of Brighton, she will begin a Master's degree in Arts Practice: Art, Health and Wellbeing at the University of South Wales in September, having worked with a wide range of organisations and charities, including dementia cafes, homeless shelters and parent and child groups. Craig Sparrow, chair of Rhyl Neighbourhood Board, says the installation will be the 'perfect symbol' for the Ein Rhyl/Our Rhyl campaign, a £20 million regeneration strategy that will create employment, improve infrastructure and remove barriers to opportunity over the next 10 years, funded by the UK Government's Plan for Neighbourhoods programme. He said: 'As we begin a new chapter for the town, driven by the transformative action plan and timeline currently being drawn up by the Board, this is a fantastic project that will fuel creativity and passion in the area. 'It will also act as the perfect symbol for the next decade of regeneration and beyond, giving young people in particular a sense of ownership and pride in their community. 'We can't wait to see what they and Ffion come up with, I'm sure it's going to be incredible and really brighten up the seafront, bringing life to the promenade and a touch of colour to the vital sea defences constructed in past years.' Working on behalf of Denbighshire County Council, Balfour Beatty led on this project, which involved removing the old promenade and sea walls, as well as widening and lifting the new promenade to provide a better shared space for pedestrians and cyclists. They also built a concrete-stepped revetment structure to reduce flooding risk and erosion which will protect more than 600 properties previously affected by flooding in Central Rhyl.
