More than £10,000 was raised at a promise auction and barbecue organised by the Farmers' Union of Wales' Montgomeryshire branch last Saturday evening (July 3) to show support for the family of a staff member whose daughter is suffering from cancer.
Sixty-eight lots went under the hammer during the event at Cefn Coch Inn, Cefn Coch, near Welshpool, and the top price of £320 was paid for the use of a flat in Cardiff for any weekend - including rugby international weekends - donated by Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates.
A tour of the House of Commons with lunch or dinner, donated by Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies, made £220; a limited edition Corgi replica of an M E Edwards & Son livestock transporter signed by Richard Edwards, proprietor of the Llanfair Caereinion transport company, sold for £200; while a British Lions rugby shirt signed by Welsh legend Phil Bennett and given by the FUW went for £140.
The total raised from the auction - efficiently conducted by Glandon Lewis, of Welshpool auctioneers Norman R Lloyd - was a brilliant £6,520 which, together with the proceeds of a barbecue, raffle and various donations, was boosted to a massive £10,161 which will be donated to local breast cancer support facilities.
"I'm sure the family of FUW Montgomery area officer Tony Williams whose youngest daughter, 31-year-old Sally, is currently receiving treatment for breast cancer will want me to offer their warm and genuine thanks to each one of the 300-plus people who attended," said FUW president Gareth Vaughan today.
"It was truly heartwarming to witness the generosity of the people of Montgomeryshire and beyond who helped make it such a hugely successful event," added Mr Vaughan.