A North Wales hospital charity is offering its biggest-ever Christmas raffle prize – a massive £500 – as it races to raise money for vital equipment.
The League of Friends at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan says the record-breaking festive windfall has only been made possible thanks to the generosity of Lock Stock Self Storage who have sites in Denbigh, Rhyl, Abergele and Llandudno.
Chair Dilys Percival urged supporters to snap up tickets before the December 19 draw, praising Lock Stock for backing the charity “in absolutely incredible ways” during one of its busiest fundraising periods.
The company already provides the League of Friends with a container at its Denbigh site which the charity uses to store equipment.
Dilys said: “The £500 prize is the biggest ever cash prize we’ve had in our Christmas raffle.
“The raffle has been going for a number of years but the £500 from Lock Stock is absolutely our largest cash prize and I think Lock Stock have been absolutely amazing with us.
“They have given us invaluable support already because we have the container from them as well where we can keep the things we need for special occasions such as Christmas, Halloween, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and other events.”
Dilys said a variety of other prizes were on offer in the festive raffle.
The second top prize is a £250 voucher for the Serenity Spa in Marian Resort & Spa, Dyserth, with the prize provided by League of Friends president John Bellis.
The third top prize is a Christmas hamper stacked with £100 worth of festive goodies, donated by League of Friends volunteers and supporters.
Dilys said: “The top three prizes really are terrific prizes, and we have other prizes too, lots of other bits and pieces.
“The Christmas raffle will be drawn at 4pm on December 19 at the League of Friends tea bar at the hospital.
“People can come here to buy the tickets or from our volunteers.
“All the money raised will go towards buying equipment for the hospital.
“Last year we donated £200,000 to the hospital to buy equipment.
“The hospital puts its bids into us for equipment and we choose with them what we would like to support.
“For example we have released money to the hospital to buy new chairs for A&E, which will be in place next year.”
Formed in 1974, the League of Friends has now raised more than £8 million for the hospital.
The organisation runs a sales table, tea bar and shop at the Bodelwyddan hospital and has plans to open an additional tea bar in A&E next year.
Dilys revealed she has a deep family connection to the League of Friends.
She said: “I started helping when we came back from Covid because my mother Betty Williams did it previously and I came to help her.”
She said while last year was a special year for the group as it celebrated 50 years of work, next year was shaping up to be a significant year too.
Dilys said: “We are having a tea bar in A&E next year on top of the services we already provide.”
Ollie Beech, Lock Stock’s marketing officer, said: “The League of Friends is something we have previously supported and it’s something we are really passionate about.
“Glan Clwyd is obviously a very local hospital to our home town of Denbigh and serves many of the people who utilise our sites in North Wales.
“It is an incredibly busy time of year for the hospital and the League of Friends in general.
“The group do such incredible work on a voluntary basis so it felt right to support them and try to give back to our local community.
“The people who work here are absolutely incredible all year round, not just at this incredibly busy time of year.
“We see the stress that hospitals are under so the work the League of Friends do in fundraising for new equipment and supporting patients, doctors, nurses and support staff is absolutely commendable.
“We really appreciate what they do for our community, and it’s something we are in awe of.
“It’s especially humbling when you come to the hospital at this time of year, and you’re gearing up to spend time with your friends and family, and you see the League of Friends volunteers working here when they could be at home with their families.
“We are really pleased to be able to support them and can’t wait to see the results of the raffle and hopefully it raises plenty of money for Glan Clwyd and they can make a real difference as they always do.”
League of Friends business manager Stephanie Park urged the public to buy a raffle ticket to support the group’s crucial work.
She said: “All the money raised goes back to our hospital here, it doesn’t go to any other hospital.
“It goes back into Glan Clwyd in forms of essential equipment which is desperately required here.
“We have over 100 volunteers and we are looking for more, especially because next year we will be having an additional mini shop tea bar based in A&E.
“People interested in volunteering can pop in here and pick up a form or they can contact me on 03000 846 221 and I will send an application form in the post.
“We have a Facebook page as well so people can find details there.”
