AROUND 25 Girl Guides from Girlguiding Cardiff and East Glamorgan were recently invited to Tŷ Hafan – the children’s hospice in Wales for a presentation.

The girls gathered at the Sully based Hospice and were presented them with a handcrafted, inscribed apple that will now hang on the charity’s gift tree. The apple is a special commemorative sculpture located at the hospice that honours donors who have raised more than £10,000.

The guides were given the apple after taking part in Snowdogs: Tails in Wales, where they designed and painted three of the statues.

Last year Tŷ Hafan held the successful fundraising Snowdogs campaign and Girlguiding Cardiff and East Glamorgan took part in the learning programme which was an integral part of the campaign and which was open to schools, education and training providers and community groups across South Wales.

Girlguiding Cardiff and East Glamorgan developed a special Snowdogs Challenge Badge which called for the girls to complete five challenges, one of them involving fundraising. Exceeding all expectations, 2000 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers and Leaders earned the badge, and managed to raise more than £11,000 for Tŷ Hafan.

Siobhan Saunders, leader of the 94th Penarth Guides, and District Commissioner for Girlguiding Penarth said: “The night was the conclusion of the past 18 months, taking part in Snowdogs: Tails in Wales. I’m so proud of our three Girlguiding Snowpups and the girls taking the time to design and paint them. The challenge badge to raise in excess of £11,000 has exceeded all our expectations.”

Claire Cooper, Ty Hafan’s director of income generation, added: “We are hugely grateful to the Guides who raised a fantastic amount of money for us. Thanks to their fundraising and support, we can continue to offer care and comfort to children with life-limiting conditions and their families.”