I suppose in an ideal world there wouldn’t be a need for charity. Somehow or another we would find a way to make sure everyone had everything they needed for a good, healthy and fulfilled life. Of course the world doesn’t work that way.
Having said that I’m incredibly proud of our parents and grandparents generations that tried their best to try to make our lives better and more secure than theirs.
In the past we have come up with safety nets like unemployment benefit or more recently universal credit, but people always slip between the cracks. We are all aware of the financial pressures we’ve been under for what seems like decades and the NHS hasn’t been immune from that. Even with everything the NHS does give us there are procedures or medicines that the service just isn’t able to provide. Recently I have been involved in 2 charities trying their best to stand in the gap.
Charity is a funny word. I thought I’d ask AI to come up with some sort of definition…
Charity, at its core, involves the voluntary provision of assistance to those in need. This can encompass various forms of giving, including money, goods, time, or effort, all done without expectation of reward. It also extends to a benevolent and compassionate attitude towards others, encompassing understanding, tolerance, and a desire to help.
I remember listening to a BBC Radio 4 programme about the translation of the King James Bible that there was quite an argument about translating a passage often used in wedding services, 1 Corinthians 13v13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Apparently the word at the end of this passage in Greek was ‘Agape’, the highest form of love. It is said the translators had the choice of translating agape as ‘love’ or ‘charity’ but went with charity. They thought it was easier to sell the idea of giving charity to someone you didn’t really know rather than having to actually ‘love’ them.
As that argument was played out over 400 years ago I don’t suppose we will ever know the real story, but I’ve been thinking lately, when it comes to ‘charity’, whatever the word used might be, love is the real motivation.
John Davies, President of Swansea Sportsmen’s Club
Last Thursday I was invited to a special luncheon held by the Swansea Sportsmen’s Club. The Club has been meeting for many years. They often use the dinners to recognise the achievement of a sports personality, they always have a good time…and they always raise money for good causes.
Last year I was invited to one of their lunches to collect a cheque for the Swansea Bay Health Charity which is raising money to refurbish five 2 bedroomed houses based at Singleton Hospital. The houses are for the use of families who have a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), somewhere they can escape for a moment and somewhere to stay if they are far from home. The houses are free to use but they needed some TLC.
Why me? Well my family didn’t actually need to use the houses, but we did need the NICU unit. Back in September 2023 my grandson Gulliver was born extremely early. Sadly, even with their best efforts we lost Gulliver, but I was so grateful for everything they did that as I left I said if there was ever anything I could do to help they only had to ask. A little while later I was asked to share my story to help bring some publicity to the ‘Cwtsh Clos’ Appeal.
Now I’m used to standing up in front of people and either singing or telling stories, I’ve been doing it most of my life. This is different…this really hurts but what I know is as I tell our story I’m remembering Gulliver and by the telling we are helping to make other people’s lives better. Last year I walked out of the lunch with a cheque for £400.
At last week’s lunch I was sat next to 2 ladies from the Charity ‘Morgan’s Army’. Just like our family, Morgan’s family had been pulled into an unexpected world, a world for which they were unprepared. It wasn’t long before Nova, Morgan’s Grandmother, and I were sharing our stories. Nothing can prepare you for these ‘small family’ tragedies. From the moment you first get the news you have your hearts broken everyday as you hope for the best but fear for the worst. And as your tears fall the world carries on around you.
After numerous rounds of treatment and surgery Morgan passed away in June 2023. Nova and her family set up Morgan’s Army in the hope that as the statement on their website says…
‘In sharing our heart-wrenching journey, we aim to elevate awareness around childhood cancers and offer a beacon of support and understanding for families navigating similar trials.’
On Thursday 16th May we had both been invited to the Sportsmen’s lunch to collect cheques for our charities. Originally my cheque was to be for £600. John Davies the President asked me to talk a little about Cwtsh Clos and why I was involved. Just before the Treasurer signed the cheque he asked the room if anyone had any more money they would like to contribute. Within 10 minutes that £600 had risen to £1100 as the Sportsmen’s Club put their hands into their pockets once again.
As John Davies presented me with the new cheque he thought it was a perfect result as the cheque he was presenting to Morgan’s Army was also for £1100!!
I had to leave early. Nova had mentioned that over the weekend Morgan’s Army had organised a music festival at Gorseinon Rugby Club. Of course as we all said our goodbyes I said if you want me to pop down and do some songs just let me know. That’s the reason I found myself singing on Saturday afternoon in the Gorseinon Sunshine.
‘Morgfest’ was blessed with beautiful weather and hundreds of people eating drinking having fun and raising money in memory of a much loved little boy.
There are so many reasons why people get involved in charity work. Some might be successful business men meeting occasionally for lunch who underneath those suits have some of the softest hearts you’ll ever meet. Some of us are families trying our best to remember those we have loved and maybe lost. Some call it charity but it’s all ‘agape’ love to me.