Morgan’s Army was set up in 2023 to support South Wales families affected by childhood cancer, in memory of Morgan Ridler who sadly passed away after a rare form of adrenal cancer.
The charity has grown considerably since its inception, which has meant that the spare bedroom Natalie Ridler – charity founder and Morgan’s mother – was using as the charity office was no longer suitable.
“I knew we needed a bigger space to work from and a more professional premises to meet sponsors and families,” said Natalie.
“But after doing some research, we discovered how expensive a company office was. It was completely out of budget, so we started exploring other options and that’s when we met Paul.”
Paul Smythe of Gower Decking is a TrexPro builder and installs the world’s number one composite decking brand in gardens across South Wales. Paul said: “Trex recently produced a TV advert and had some spare composite decking from the shoot that it was looking to donate to a worthy cause. Being a supporter of Morgan’s Army and knowing that Natalie was looking to set up a new charity headquarters, I jumped at the opportunity.
“I coordinated with other local suppliers – including FW Morgan, Carpenters Mate, Avonside Insulation and Wern Wood – to build a two room, new office in Natalie’s back garden, surrounded by the best decking available on the market. We’ve used TrexTranscend Lineage in Jasper, Rainier and Biscayne colours to create a bespoke design that represents different forms of cancer through an intricate ribbon pattern.
“Trex decking is designed to be low-maintenance and long-lasting, so I knew it would be perfect for the charity’s needs.”
The build took approximately eight weeks to complete and is now being used by Natalie and the Morgan’s Army team for a variety of purposes.
Natalie continued: “The whole project team have been amazing – sourcing materials at cost price, donating their labour time to the charity and really putting their hearts and souls into creating an incredible space that’s surpassed anything I could have ever imagined.
“The decking gives the HQ the real ‘wow’ factor and it looks really beautiful. But it’s also practical, giving us a breakout space for events and outdoor meetings in the summer. We’re also planning on using it for yoga sessions with families in the warm weather. It’s given the HQ a really modern, high-quality look. I just can’t believe it’s ours!”
The charity will be holding ‘open days’ on Wednesdays throughout November and December for local residents to drop in and see the new space, learn more about the charity and enjoy a cup of tea.
