LATCH Welcomes First Junior Ambassador

LATCH held its first Ambassador Event at Ferryside Yacht Club a few weeks back, and we were thrilled to be joined by supporters from nearby communities who were keen to find out more about how they could become LATCH Community Ambassadors.

Ava Phillips, age ten, attended the event, as she and her family were supported by LATCH in the past and they are keen to give back and to help ensure LATCH’s support services continue for many years to come, and we’re excited to share that she has become our first Junior Community Ambassador.

Ava began treatment for cancer in May 2009, following over 4 months of investigations, and underwent 8 months of treatment at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff and Stanmore Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The family’s desire to give back was evident even then, when Ava’s tumour was donated to a tumour bank for research which will help other children in the future.

 

Throughout Ava’s treatment, and beyond, the family were supported by LATCH, regularly using our home from home accommodation to ensure the family could be together and minimise the long journeys from their home near Swansea, as well as benefitting from other LATCH services and trips and treats for Ava.

Ava commented: “I’m really pleased to be a Junior Community Ambassador for LATCH because it’s my way of saying thank you for all that they have done to help me. It’s only been a matter of weeks and I already have three events planned, one of which will be to volunteer at the Pembrokeshire Show in August and I really can’t wait!”

Ava’s mum, Steph, who also attended the event, commented: “LATCH is an amazing charity which supported us, as a family, in the same way it continues to support families today. We are so proud of Ava for becoming the first Junior Community Ambassador and for being part of the next generation of fundraising. We feel it’s important that she is able to share her story to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to offer hope to others going through treatment, along with their families, that there is a future beyond diagnosis.”

If you’d like to find out more about becoming a LATCH Community Ambassador then please get in touch by emailing Stephen.price6@wales.nhs.uk or by calling the LATCH Office on 029 2074 8868.

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