Kidney Wales are proud to announce five new patrons who have pledged their support to the charity. The new patrons are ITV Wales and ITV Network News presenter, Andrea Benfield; Wales, British Lions and Cardiff Blues wing three-quarter star, Leigh Halfpenny; long standing supporter and MP for Montgomeryshire, Glyn Davies MP; Lord Michael German and former First Minister the Rt Hon. Rhodri Morgan AM. They join a distinguished line-up of Kidney Wales patrons that are all involved in various areas of Welsh public life.
Andrea Benfield said: “As a charity that is often in the news either in its role supporting patients, encouraging people to get active through the Walk for Life and Cardiff 10k or to acknowledge the efforts of fundraisers from all parts of Wales, Kidney Wales has always stood out for me. I have been involved with the charity for some time, participating in various events such as the Cardiff 10k, the annual Carol Concert and, last year, hosting the Walk for Life Gala Dinner and am therefore thrilled to become an official patron.”
Rhodri Morgan said: “Kidney Wales brings out the best of Wales, people that care, get active and try to make a difference. I have attended the charity’s events for many years and I look forward to supporting the charity’s good work in my official capacity as patron.”
Roy J Thomas, Chairman of Kidney Wales said: “Our patrons and all supporters are the cornerstones of our work at Kidney Wales. We look forward to their support over the coming year especially with the up-coming Walk for Life on March 27th which is spearheaded by Alex Jones, Sarra Elgan, Andrea Benfield and Leigh Halfpenny.”
ENDS
For more information, case studies or interviews, please contact Tristan Williams on 029 2034 3940 / [email protected]
NOTES TO EDITOR
KIDNEY WALES PATRONS:
Katherine Jenkins, Baroness Gale of Blaenrhondda, Gerald Davies CBE DL, Catrin Finch, Amanda Protheroe-Thomas, Max Boyce MBE, Tim Rhys-Evans, Nicole Cooke MBE, Sarra Elgan, Alex Jones, Nathan Cleverley, Glyn Davies MP, The Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, Lord Michael German, Andrea Benfield, Leigh Halfpenny.
WALK FOR LIFE 2011
This year’s Walk for Life event takes place on Sunday, March 27. There are more than 100 walks being held across Wales. Money raised from the Walk for Life is used to make a difference to children and adults in Wales who suffer with kidney disease and renal failure. Life on dialysis is extremely difficult and some are so ill they will never get the chance to be put forward for a life saving kidney transplant.
Our Walk for Life Ambassadors for 2011 are TV presenters Alex Jones, Sarra Elgan, Andrea Benfield and British Lions & Wales Rugby star Leigh Halfpenny who are helping us make this year’s Walk for Life event the biggest and best to date.
For more information on the Walk for Life, walks in your area or to organise your own walk, please contact Kidney Wales on 029 2034 3940
ABOUT THE KIDNEY WALES FOUNDATION
Established in 1967, Kidney Wales has had over forty years of success in supporting and working with kidney patients in Wales. During this time the charity has supported many aspects of kidney patient care in Wales including transplantation, dialysis, research and patient welfare. Kidney Wales played a major role in getting an organ donor card attached to driving licences in the UK and was instrumental in setting up Lifeline Wales – a computer register of people willing to be organ donors in the event of their death.
In 2007 Kidney Wales launched the ‘People Like Us’ campaign, which put renal patients centre stage as they articulated their vision on how Wales could become a world class provider of renal services . With over 490 people waiting for a transplant in Wales, a chronic shortage of organs and increasing demand, People Like Us had three key suggestions for how to save lives:
• delivering a new dedicated transplant unit for Wales;
• working with partners to deliver a substantial increase in donors; and
• introducing legislation in Wales for Soft Opt Out / Presumed Consent.
All three of these objectives have been met with positive responses from the Welsh Assembly Government and National Assembly for Wales.
The Kidney Wales Foundation also organises the organ donation campaign in Wales; working with six other charities and the British Medical Association to encourage more people to join the organ donor register.
www.donatewales.orgKidney Wales are proud to announce five new patrons who have pledged their support to the charity. The new patrons are ITV Wales and ITV Network News presenter, Andrea Benfield Wales, British Lions and Cardiff Blues wing three-quarter star, Leigh Halfpenny long standing supporter and MP for Montgomeryshire, Glyn Davies MP Lord Michael German and former First Minister the Rt Hon. Rhodri Morgan AM. They join a distinguished line-up of Kidney Wales patrons that are all involved in various areas of Welsh public life.
Andrea Benfield said: