A Welsh charity has donated £100,000 to three organisations which are aligned with its goals and aspirations.
Treat Trust Wales was founded in 2000 by Melanie Davies, who became a paraplegic following a motorbike accident when she was just 15. Treat stands for Treatment, Rehabilitation, Exercise And Therapy.
Working in close liaison with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, Treat’s original aim was to provide a state-of-the-art rehabilitation centre on land next to Morriston Hospital, Swansea.
Paul Thorburn, Chair of Treat Trust Wales, said:
“The charity embarked on various fundraising initiatives, and the founders and trustees have been greatly supported over the years by the late Meyrick Sheen, father of actor Michael Sheen, and also opera singer Paul Potts.
“But despite tireless efforts and the gift of land at Morriston Hospital on which a specialist centre could be developed, it became increasingly apparent that raising a minimum of £35 million was going to be extremely challenging.
“My fellow trustees Jane Boyes, Nia Phillips, Zena Davies and I agreed recently to distribute the funds which have been raised over the years to organisations which were already delivering, or are about to embark on delivering, services which provide what Treat was set up to do, and which are in line with our aspirations.”
The three beneficiaries of the initial donation are:
- The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association, where the funds will be used to support ongoing research into the disease.
- The Pentre Awel Wellbeing Centre in Llanelli, whose hydrotherapy facility and specialist gymnasium equipment will support those with disabilities.
- Ysgol Dyffryn Aman School near Ammanford which, with the support of The Cruyff Foundation, is developing a specialist sports facility. The school has a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) centre which currently supports more than 42 pupils with a range of profound additional learning needs. The Cruyff Foundation, established by the late Johan Cruyff, develops and funds facilities for children and young people with a disability and their outdoor courts are adapted to the children’s needs.
Chief Scientist of the Motor Neurone Disease Association Dr Brian Dickie said:
“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the trustees of Treat Trust Wales for their generous contribution to the MND Association’s research programme.
“We currently support more than 130 research studies, ranging from laboratory studies to understand the causes of MND and disease process, to research on developing and trialling new clinical treatments, though to healthcare studies to improve the quality of care provided to people who are given this devastating diagnosis.
“We are learning more about this disease every day and are confident that in the coming years we will turn that knowledge into effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for this devastating disease.”
Paul added:
“We look forward to seeing the results of these investments in the coming years and wish the staff and volunteers associated with these projects every success. Our thanks go to them for helping to change the lives of those in need.
“We also look forward to supporting other similar projects over the coming years with the rest of the funds.”
