Santa's special cause sees Swansea bike ride
His usual mode of transport is a sleigh but this weekend Santa will be switching to two wheels to raise money for a cause close to his heart.
The jolly fella in a red suit – aka granddad Phil Craven – has been helping organise a Santa charity bike ride for close on 11 years. But this year it will be even more meaningful as it’s to say thank you to those who saved his grandson’s life.
Little Theo arrived in Singleton Hospital on 21st June of this year. However, he started displaying breathing problems and other complications, which saw him transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
At one point his parents, Lauren and Alex Kiley, began discussing putting a memory box together with the nursing staff such was the bleak outlook.
Thankfully Theo proved to be a fighter and with the aid of the hospital’s “remarkable” staff he turned a corner and was deemed stable enough to be airlifted to Great Ormond Street Hospital for specialist treatment.
Theo responded well and after 11 days at the London-based children’s hospital, he was transferred back to Singelton and was later discharged.
To show their appreciation, on Sunday Phil and his friends will cycle in Santa outfits from the Railway Inn in Landore to Verdi’s café in Mumbles.
There they will take a dip in the sea before the return journey, stopping off in various pubs collecting donations as they go.
Phil said: “The NICU staff were fantastic and it was a very emotional and stressful time for us as a family.
“Theo came along, and put us through the wringer, and because of the help and support he got in NICU and Great Ormond Street Hospital and the Wales Air Ambulance of course, we decided to raise some money for them.
“Every year a group of us do a charity Santa bike ride and raise funds for worthy causes throughout the West Glamorgan area.
“The ride has been going on 20 years now with Theo’s other grandad, Paul Kiley, and our friend Phil Graham being instrumental in organising it.
“This year we will be trying to raise as much as possible for the NICU unit and also the Wales Air Ambulance, without whom our grandson would not be here.
“We leave around 10am from the Railway Inn, around 25 of us dressed as Santa, cycle down to Mumbles with collection buckets to collect along the way. We always get a wave and a good reception.
“When we get down there some of us will have a dip in the sea and get freezing cold. Then we will get back on our bikes and ride home, stopping in a few pubs - No Sign Bar, The Queens, The Victoria and The Badminton – hopefully, raising as much money as we can along the way.
“It will take around 45 minutes to get down there but we take our time coming back as when we stop off in the various pubs, they put on some soup for us and the regulars chip in.
“Once we’re back in the Railway we will have a charity night with everything going to the appeal. We raised around £800 last year so hopefully we will do the same this year.”
Theo is six months old now and looks to have made a full recovery.
Phil said: “He’s doing very well. Obviously he’s back and forth for check-ups but he’s thriving. He’s a big bonny baby who’s doing excellent.
“There are some things after his ordeal that they are keeping an eye on but he’s happy and he’s smiling and healthy. That’s all we can ask for.”
Lewis Bradley, support manager for Swansea Bay Health Charity, said: “We are so happy to hear Theo has had the all-clear.
“Our thanks go to Phil, his family and his friends for thinking about raising money for Swansea Bay Health Charity and Wales Air Ambulance which helped save his grandson’s life.
“It sounds like a great event that will be seen by many throughout the West Glamorgan area.
“We wish them all the best for their ride this Sunday and wish them a very happy Christmas.”
The charity’s fundraising officer, Cathy Stevens, added: “Thank you so much to Phil for choosing to support NICU in his fundraising event! Can't wait to see the pictures.
“Money raised from this event will help improve the care we can give our tiniest of patients. Thank you so much.”
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