BHF Cymru has thanked the community of Whitchurch RFC in Cardiff, who came together to commemorate the life of a much-loved family-man, friend, and member of the rugby fraternity, by planning a fundraising event in his memory with evening of entertainment and a celebrity auction hosed by Wales and Lions rugby legend Steve Fenwick.
The event on April 30th raised over £6,680, £2,500 of which was raised via the auction which included a signed and framed Gareth Bale Real Madrid Shirt, and signed rugby memorabilia, as well as items donated by local businesses, friends, and family.
Organiser Gareth Davies, Whitchurch RFC Social Secretary, says “This is an amazing amount and is a testament to the respect and love people have for Bryn.
“It was a tremendous evening and really proved what a community can achieve when it pulls together. I would like to thank the performers, everyone who donated prizes and who bought raffle tickets prior to and on the evening. Most of all, I’d like to thank each and every single person who attended on the evening – without them, the night would not have been such a roaring success. It was a pleasure to organise and to be a part of.”
Bryn’s wife Ginny, 57 was supported on the night by their children Rachel, 35, Lorna, 33, Hannah, 28 and Gareth, 26. She says, “The messages we had after the event were unbelievable, saying how much they enjoyed it. The generosity of everybody there was unbelievable.
“We would all like to thank everybody who came and supported us and the BHF in Bryn’s memory, and who made it a night to remember. It truly showed how many people loved and miss him.”
Paying tribute to her husband, Ginny says, “Bryn and I would have been married for 30 years this coming October and I miss him terribly. We have 4 children and 7 grandchildren who adored him.
Bryn Evans passed away on November 11th 2021, aged 67, shortly after being admitted to hospital with Coronavirus. The family wanted to support the British Heart Foundation in Bryn’s memory after he survived three cardiac arrests caused by atrial fibrillation in 2019.
“Bryn came home after six weeks with an ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) fitted to keep his heart in a safe rhythm, and a monitor at home. With his regular cardiology outpatient’s appointments and regular check-ups life was good. He retired early and just took things easy.
“Bryn jokingly told people he died three times but couldn’t praise all the medical staff enough. This is why we, as a family, have chosen the BHF as our charity.”
BHF Cymru Area Fundraising Manager Nikki James says, “We were honoured to meet Bryn’s family and friends, and we want to thank them and everyone involved in the event in his memory at Whitchurch Rugby Club, at what we know is an incredibly difficult time for them.
“For more than 60 years the public’s generosity has funded BHF research that has turned ideas that once seemed like ‘science fiction’ into treatments that save lives every day. But millions of people are still waiting for the next breakthrough. Fundraising events like this provide hope to families across Wales.
“Today in Wales around 340,000 people are living with the daily burden of heart and circulatory diseases and dozens of families will lose loved ones to devastating heart diseases. We urgently need the public’s support to keep our life saving research going, and to discover the treatments of the future. It is only with donations from the public that the BHF can keep its lifesaving research going, helping us turn science fiction into reality.”
