Local Dad Completes the Swansea Half Ironman for Carmarthenshire Children’s Sight Impairment Group EBEC

A group set up to help children with a sight impairment in Carmarthenshire, and their families, has been given a huge boost thanks to the fundraising efforts of the father of one of its members.
Rhys Howells from Llangennech decided to attempt the Swansea Half Ironman on July 17th this year to raise money for ‘EyeBelieve EyeCan’ a group that supports children and young people with a sight impairment in Carmarthenshire. Rhys’ son, Taliesin, has a sight impairment and after joining the group Rhys felt inspired to do something special to raise funds.

“EyeBelieve EyeCan has already provided us with some great experiences and support,” said Rhys, “and I felt that I wanted to do something to raise money to support the group and young people and children with a sight impairment across Carmarthenshire.”

Rhys managed to raise a whopping £1,070 in total for EBEC after achieving the feat in 7 hrs and 29 minutes.

“We are so grateful to Rhys and his family for all their hard work in fundraising for us,” said Bev Moore, Chair of EBEC. “This is an amazing achievement. We think the world of Taliesin and his family and are so glad that EBEC has had such a positive impact on their lives”.

EyeBelieve EyeCan is a fundraising support group for children and young people with a Visual Impairment in Carmarthenshire and its mission is to provide opportunities for these children and young people, and their families, to meet, greet and support each other through fun social activities. It also provides the children and young people with the opportunity and choice to gain new experiences, to develop new skills and to make new friends.

This news follows a successful National Lottery Community Fund bid that has also funded EBEC’s activities and events during 2023.

“Congratulations to Rhys on such a fantastic achievement,” said Sue Griffiths, EBEC’s Vice-chair and founder. “We are really grateful and look forward to working with Rhys and his family and the rest of the group to decide how we are going to put this money to good use for the benefit of sight-impaired children and young people across Carmarthenshire.”

EBEC has a very exciting line-up of events and activities planned for the coming year. In August the group will be meeting at the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust in Penclacwydd, Llanelli and following a year of exciting activities from September onwards, including Goalball, Pumpkin Carving and Luminate at the National Botanic Garden of Wales they are super excited to be going to West Midlands Safari Park next summer.

EBEC is open to any children and young people with a sight impairment in Carmarthenshire, and their families, and are encouraged to contact EBEC for further information. All the relevant information is on the EBEC website – www.eyebelieveeyecan.com as well as the Facebook (Eyebelieve Eyecan) and Twitter (EyeBelieve EyeCan) pages.