5. 3. 90-second Statements

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:35 pm on 9 November 2016.

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Photo of Mr Simon Thomas Mr Simon Thomas Plaid Cymru 3:35, 9 November 2016

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. About a year ago, I met Elly Neville of Pembroke, and Elly had won a competition to design a collage Pembrokeshire flag at Pembroke Dock Community School as part of the school’s St David Day’s celebrations. Elly and her family then took the flag around Pembrokeshire to raise funds for the refurbishment and upgrade of ward 10 at Withybush hospital, to make it once again a dedicated cancer ward. Her father, Lyn, had been a chemotherapy patient at ward 10 himself after a bone marrow transplant.

Elly’s ward 10 flag appeal has grown and grown. Now, it is an official part of the Hywel Dda health charities. To date, the campaign has raised over £52,000 and has purchased its first equipment for the ward. The next step is to get approval for the full business case for refurbishing ward 10, which had given its dedicated staff and facilities for her father’s recovery. But even Elly’s prodigious feats will need Welsh Government assistance for such ward refurbishment.

Perhaps I should have mentioned that Elly is six years old. Her contribution has already been wonderful, and she is a credit to her family, school and community. She received a British Citizen Youth Award last month in the House of Lords. I commend her work and the charity to the Assembly. Diolch yn fawr, Elly.