Throughout our history we have reported on the news, events and things that matter to the people of Gwent. To commemorate this event we will be delving into the archives and bringing you some glimpses of our past as well as bringing our current news stories.

To celebrate this special anniversary we are launching an appeal to raise as much money as possible for St David’s Hospice Care, a charity that has always had close ties to the Argus.

The 125 Appeal will run throughout 2017.

South Wales Argus editor Nicole Garnon said: “We are delighted to mark this special anniversary by launching an appeal for a charity which is close to our hearts.

“So many people’s lives have been in some way touched by St David’s Hospice.

“Our aim is to recruit 125 teams of fundraisers to help us make this anniversary year a really special one, not just for us but for the hospice as well.”

St David’s Hospice was founded in 1979 by Heulwen Egerton, the nurse tutor at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital who set up the ‘Gwent Hospice Project Group.’ The group was made up of like-minded individuals who were concerned at the lack of palliative care available to the people of Gwent.

Since then the organisation has grown from dealing with six patients when it first opened to becoming the UK’s largest provider of hospice at home care. It now cares for more than 3,200 patients and families every year, at a cost of more than £7.5 million.

The 125 Appeal aims to raise money to help with these huge costs. We want to raise money to help with the different work that the St David’s Hospice Care does in our community.

This is where we need you. We are looking for fundraisers to help make this campaign a success. We are recruiting people from all over the region to take part in this special appeal that will help the St David’s Hospice Care.

We are especially looking for fundraising ideas along the 125 theme. Would you do a 125 themed challenge? You could dance for 125 minutes, do a 125-mile bike ride, do 125 star jumps – we welcome all your fundraising ideas.

Chief executive of St David’s Hospice Care Emma Saysell, said: “The tremendous and exciting 125 Appeal will allow us to further boost the profile of St David’s Hospice Care in our community through the excellent, regular exposure we will receive both in paper and online.

“The sheer range and extent of coverage will not only tell people about the work we do in our community but will also allow people, our patients, their families, our volunteers and staff, to tell their own, fascinating stories through the pages of the South Wales Argus during this momentous year.

“We also welcome the chance the 125 Appeal will give very many more people to raise funds for St David’s Hospice Care through the 12 months, all of which is so important in helping us to continue to deliver the vital, free services that we do, day and night, 365 days of each and every year that so many are, in increasing numbers, coming to rely on in our community throughout Gwent.”

Find out more at stdavidshospicecare.org/event-details/125-appeal/

* If you would like to get involved then you can register your interest at http://stdavidshospicecare.org/get-in-touch/

In return we will publicise and cover your event to help maximise the amount of money you raise.

* You can donate £5 to the Argus 125 appeal by texting ARGUS 125 to 70500. UK taxpayers can also add Gift Aid to your donation by filling in a simple form online – you will get the link when you text.

What the money you raise will pay for:

£1.25 will buy a cup of tea, a sandwich and a slice of homemade cake for a patient.

£12.50 will buy a uniform for a nurse.

£12.50 will buy 575 surgical gloves for our nurses.

£12.50 will buy art and craft materials for a child who needs support.

£125.00 pays for one and a half sessions at our day hospice.

£1,250.00 will pay for a three day stay for a patient in our in-patient unit at St Anne’s.

£1,250.00 allows our clinical nurse specialist to provide and plan the care for four patients.

£1,250.00 buys a syringe driver and includes maintenance for one year.

£12,500.00 buys three specialist beds and specialist mattresses for the new hospice.

£125,000 funds 10 days of our charitable work.

Text to donate

You can donate £5 to the Argus 125 appeal by texting ARGUS 125 to 70500. UK taxpayers can also add Gift Aid to your donation by filling in a simple form online.

You can also donate on the 125 Appeal Just Giving page: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/sdf/SWArgus125

While you might be aware of some of the work St David’s Hospice Care offers, they offer a range of services for people of all ages.

They work alongside patients and hope to support those at the most difficult times of their lives. Another important aspect of their work is that of the Family Support Team who offer families support and advice to deal with

Another vital service we are raising money for is Unicorn. The service does vital work providing specialist bereavement support to children and young people.

Services available from St David’s Hospice Care:

• Clinical Nurse Specialists in Palliative Care, attached to designated GP practices

• Hospice at Home

• Family Support

• Social Workers

• Welfare Rights Advisors

• Complementary Therapies

• Unicorn – Support for Children

• Complementary Therapy Out-Reach Clinics

• In Patient Unit

• Carers Groups

• Education

• Chaplain Service

• 24 hr On – Call Service

• Specialist Equipment Loan

• Support for Care Homes

• Bereavement Care