FUNDS: A cheque for £8,001.86 has been presented to the Hospice of the Valleys by last year’s mayor of Blaenau Gwent, Barrie Sutton.

Mr Sutton, who was mayor of the county borough for 2016-17, chose the hospice as his charity for the annual mayor’s charity appeal.

He recently visited the Hospice offices, in Festival Drive, Ebbw Vale, to present the cheque to chief executive Helen Rees.

She said, ‘We would like to thank Mr Sutton and his team very much for all their hard work in raising this amount for the hospice of the Valleys over the last year – it will all help to support our specialist palliative care service for people in Blaenau Gwent with life-limiting illnesses.

‘Since 2005, we have been the beneficiaries of the Blaenau Gwent mayor’s appeal nine times, as well as the charity of choice for many of the town mayors – resulting in an incredible £109,824.77 being raised for the Hospice of the Valleys.’

There will be no mayor of Blaenau Gwent in the future – and the hospice also thanked all the mayors, past and present, who have worked tirelessly to raise so much money for the hospice.

It also expressed appreciation to the Blaenau Gwent mayor’s secretary/chauffeur Chris Smith, who played a very proactive role in promoting fundraising for the charity over many years.

Anyone who would like information about the hospice, phone 01495 717277 or visit  hospiceofthevalleys.org.uk