This year’s Cardiff Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 14 October.  The race has already attracted hundreds of runner eager to secure their place.

2011′s sell out race saw a record number of runners taking part, with over 15,000 entering the biggest road race in Cardiff, boasting a carnival atmosphere.

Why not run this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon for LATCH.  Register now to guarantee your place.  Registration is £29 for runners affiliated with a running club and £31 for non affiliated runners. 

Registration Form – English

Registration Form – Welsh

The cost will be £200.00 per team of 4 and includes coffee and a bacon roll on arrival and a two course meal after play.

Prizes will be awarded on named greens and there will also be a prize for the winning team and runners up. 

If you wish to enter a team, please download the entry form below or contact the LATCH Office on 029 2074 8858 for further details and an entry form.

Entry Form

LATCH’s 30th Anniversary birthday celebrations commenced with a bang on Saturday 28 January when the annual LATCH Birthday Party was held at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff. 

Over 250 children and their families attended the birthday party and were entertained by Jasper the Clown, Bruce Airhead, Angie Brown, the face painter and Dr Bob’s Balloons who always amazes with his wonderful balloon creations.  This year a Cardiff Theatrical Company attended the party and there were some very realistic cuts and scars being displayed by the childen – very gory!

The party was held at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff and LATCH would like to thank them for allowing us the use of the hall and also a big thank you to all who made this event extra special and the volunteers who gave up their time and worked so hard on the day.

On Wednesday 1 February, LATCH Chairman, Judge Philip Price and LATCH Trustee, Steve Murray attended a presentation evening at Dunraven Conservative Club in Penygraig.

The club chose LATCH its charity during 2011 and organised a number of events during the year which raised £2,178.  The vice-Chairman of the Conservative Club, Alfie Rowlands felt that the Charity was such a worthwhile cause and had supported local children from their community.

Pictured from left is Alfie Rowlands, Ian Belmont, Treasurer and Barry Davies, Secretary of Dunraven Conservative Club with Judge Philip Price and Steve Murray.

Ellie, Lola, Phoebe and Charly blow out the candles!

On Monday 30 January, children currently undergoing treatment on Sky Ward marked LATCH’s 30 year milestone anniversary with a special party and a birthday cake.   This is the first of a number of events that are planned for the year.

Many friends of LATCH were invited to join in the launch of the 30th Anniversary celebrations and also to view the new logo and stationery that has recently been unveiled.  A big thank you to Mark Edwards of Polar Design who created the logo and also to Steve Malpas of BlueyGreen who helped design the new website. 

Judge Philip Price, LATCH Chairman thanked everyone for attending and congratulated the fundraisers on their marvellous achievements over the last 30 years. 

Further information on forthcoming events will be available on the website and in our quarterly Newsletter.

Adam Stanton, proudly displaying the Welsh flag

Adam Stanton undertook the challenge of a lifetime last August when he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in aid of LATCH.  Adam said that the climb was extremely demanding, but one of the most exhilarating experiences of his life.  A lot of friends were made during the journey to the summit, which they successfully conquered when they climbed the highest peak in Africa, Uhurh Peak which is 5,895 metres above sea level.

LATCH helped support Kyle, Adam’s brother, in the early 1990′s and Adam was delighted to be able to raise £746.50 for LATCH, which is a charity very close to his family’s heart.  Adam would like to thank everyone for their support and was very grateful for all the sponsorship, which he has very kindly donated to LATCH.

The Emyr Owen Branch recently saw in the New Year with approximately 80 Santas, who braving the pouring rain and howling wind ran and walked between public houses in Porthcawl in aid of LATCH.

The Emyr Owen Branch would like to thank all the public houses for their hospitality, in particular The Rose and Crown for providing mulled wine and Mince Pies to start the event and The Fairways Hotel for providing Chicken Curry and Rice at the end of the event.  An incredible amount of £341.90 was raised from the event.

A big Thank You to Richard Price and Jeff Thomas for organising the event on behalf of the Emyr Owen Branch.

LATCH volunteers Brian and Sue Warrilow, Fiona Kinsella and Dave McElroy were made to feel very welcome on the day and collected an incredible £224.90.  There was plenty of festive spirit and LATCH would like to thank Sainsbury’s for giving us this opportunity and also thank all of Sainsbury’s customers for their generosity on the day.

The monies raised will be used to provide care, comfort and hope for the future for the children and young people in Wales who attend the Children’s Hospital for Wales for treatment.

John with his sister Alison Singleton presenting the cheque to LATCH

A £1,000 donation has been presented to LATCH to mark the retirement of Vale of Glamorgan mobile library driver John Jones.

Vale Council library staff raised the money to mark the end of John’s 25 year career driving the mobile library – first with South Glamorgan County Council, then with the Vale.

John said: “My nine-year-old granddaughter, has a rare form of liver cancer and has been in and out of hospital all year. LATCH has been a great support to the family and in recognition it was decided that the Library staff would hold a charity day with staff dressing up as pantomime characters and sell cakes and refreshments in the Vale Libraries on the 3 December 2011”.

LATCH wish John all the best in his retirement.

Phoebe proudly wearing her Blue Peter badge

8 year old Phoebe Taylor had an early Christmas present this year when she received a Gold Blue Peter badge following the effort she put in to holding a bake sale for the Blue Peter Bake-off Appeal.

Phoebe received the following letter from Editor of Blue Peter, Tim Levell:-

14 December 2011

Dear Phoebe

We have recently heard from your Mum that you are one of our biggest Blue Peter fans!

We understand that you have been extremely brave throughout all of your treatment, and we really appreciate the amount of time and effort you have put into holding a bake sale from the Blue Peter Bake-off Appeal. We would therefore like to award you with our highest honour – a Gold Blue Peter Badge. We hope you will enjoy wearing it!!

Once again we would like to commend you for your consideration of others and your bravery. We wish you the very best of luck with your forthcoming treatment.

With best wishes from Helen, Barney and all of us at Blue Peter.

Tim Levell

Editor

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