Airport aiming high with Ty Hafan

Cardiff International Airport celebrated naming Ty Hafan as its Charity of the Year with a special afternoon at the airport for James Carter (age 18) who visits the children's hospice in Sully.

Ty Hafan will be the airport's official charity until April 2009. A ll funds raised during the next 12 months will help the charity to continue providing respite, palliative and end of life care for children throughout Wales , who are unlikely to reach adulthood.

Ty Hafan was chosen by the Airport charity committee following a vote for the most popular local fundraising cause. The airport has already planned a number of events and fundraising

initiatives which will involve staff, their families, passengers as well as the local community.

James along with his carer Dan Notley and Rachael Power from Ty Hafan visited the airport to launch the fundraising activities and got to experience a journey through the airport as well as a visit to a bmibaby aircraft.

Marion Williams, chair of Cardiff Airport 's Charity Committee commented, "We're delighted to name Ty Hafan as our Charity of the Year. We look forward to working together in raising as much money as possible for such a worthwhile local cause."

Rachael Power, corporate development coordinator at Ty Hafan added, "We are so pleased that Cardiff International Airport has chosen Ty Hafan to support this year. As a charity we depend on the general public and organisations to help us raise the majority of the £2.5 million every year, to enable us make a big difference to the children and families who need our help. The service is provided completely free of charge.

The airport is also part of the Ty Hafan Corporate Support Group consisting of numerous leading companies which have joined forces to create a support group to assist the charity in promoting its work amongst Welsh businesses and also to generate much needed funds.

All  the money raised will help Ty Hafan  provide a better quality of life for the child and support for the family which includes management of distressing symptoms, provision of respite and care through death and bereavement. It provides for children for whom curative treatment is not (or is no longer) appropriate, and may extend over many years.

For more information about Ty Hafan visit www.tyhafan.org