GENEROUS people in Gwent helped raise almost £5 million for charity over the last 12 months. JESSICA BEST reports.

DESPITE many people still struggling in the face of economic recession, Gwent fundraising efforts between April 2009 and April 2010 pulled in £4.9 million for seven key charities - beating last year’s figure by £600,000.

Six-year-old Connor Owen is just one of the people your money has helped, after the Pontypool youngster was born with just one kidney working at 10 per cent of its normal function.

Connor underwent a kidney transplant in August 2007 with dad Meredydd as his donor.

Two years on, Connor has started school and enjoys life like any normal six-year-old.

But the Owen family were supported throughout his illness by the Kidney Wales, who received £19,349 from the people of Gwent this year.

Connor’s mum Michelle Owen said: “For us it was just knowing that someone was there, personally interested in you, while you’re child is going through such a difficult time. To all the people who have been involved in fundraising to make that possible, we want to say a huge thank you.”

When Michelle and Meredydd's son was born, doctors gave the baby a three per cent chance of survival.

One of the Pontypool youngster's kidneys had completely disintegrated as a result of prune belly syndrome - a rare condition which affects the bladder, bones and muscle growth - while the remaining kidney had just 10 per cent of its normal function.

But against all the odds, little Connor battled for survival.

At nine months old he was put on dialysis for 12 hours a day but Mr and Mrs Owen, who also have an eight-year-old daughter Caitlyn, knew their son would need a kidney transplant.

When Connor turned four, both of his parents were tested, and Mr Owen, 33, was a good match.

But before father and son had their transplant operations in December 2007, Kidney Wales gave the family £1,000 for a holiday to Butlins.

Mr Owen and Connor came through the surgery and earlier this year, the charity also paid for Connor to visit Disney Land Paris.

Connor's parents say this was a fantastic boost after so much time spent in hospital.

Mrs Owen said: "Kids like Connor have had horrendous lives so far, and trips like these give them something to look forward to. They spend so much time in hospital, and a child deserves to have fun."

Mrs Connor added it is not only the money Kidney Wales gives directly to families like theirs, but also the thousands of pounds spent to support treatment and research which make operations like Connor’s possible.

“I don't like what to think what would've happened if charities like Kidney Wales didn't do the work they do."

The largest amount of money raised was for Newport-based charity St David's Foundation Hospice Care.

Since April last year, the organisation has received £3.8 million from the people of Gwent - up £300,000 on last year's total.

St David’s fundraisers included 10-year-old Abercarn primary school pupil and leukaemia survivor Joel Rudakov-Davies, who raised £1,000 for the charity by completing a five-mile sponsored walk.

Joel had to cope with gruelling chemotherapy when he was just three years old, but returned to full health to do his bit for the Gwent charity.

Newport woman Jill Copeland travelled all the way to Disney World in Florida to complete Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge - a half marathon followed by a full 26.2 marathon the following day - and raised £1,600 for St David’s Foundation. She ran the race in memory of her mother-in-law Pat Copeland, who died from lung cancer at the age of 72 in 2005.

The charity's chief executive Emma Saysell said she was "extremely impressed" people had dug so deep despite the difficult financial situations many are still coping with.

She said: "People have been fantastic. We care for hundreds of people in the local area each year, and when people know others who have had reason to use our services, they know how much their donations mean.”

Children’s hospice Ty Hafan received £498,000 from community fundraisers, charity shops and legacies in Gwent over the last year, while Cancer Research UK said people in the NP postcode area coughed up £177,590 for its cause.

Blaenau Gwent’s Hospice of the Valleys matched last year’s total of £300,000, including £15,000 from events organised by former Blaenau Gwent mayor Jen Morgan, who battled breast cancer after being diagnosed in 1994.

The Argus-backed Sparkle campaign nearly doubled the amount it raised last year, with fundraisers raking in £100,000 compared to £56,000 in 2008/2009.

More than £5,000 of this came from an online auction of specially commissioned Newport Gwent Dragons shirts worn by players at their New Year’s Eve game against the Scarlets.

Sparkle's £10 million centre is now in the final stages of being built in High Cross. When it opens this autumn, it will cater for more than 1,200 disabled children and their families in Gwent.

Newport-based St Anne's hospice had not been able to provide its fundraising total for this year as the Argus went to press, but the Argus reported in October that people in Gwent have raised £8.5 million for the 10-bed hospice over the last 15 years, and it was hoped another £1.5 million would be raised this year.

WHAT YOU RAISED: St David’s Foundation Hospice Care - £3.8 million. Kidney Wales - £19, 349 Cancer Research - £177, 590 Ty Hafan - £498, 000 NSPCC - £16, 451 Hospice of the Valleys - £300,000 Sparkle - £100,000