BEACH wheelchairs bought by a care home in Tywyn thanks to generation donations from the public have had been used for the first time.

The wheelchairs arrived at Llys Cadfan care home in autumn last year, but their official launch had to be postponed because of the virus.

The home was able to use them for the first time, taking care home residents out in them on Thursday, 24 June.

Dilys Williams helped to fundraise for the beach wheelchairs and told the Cambrian News how the project was made possible.

She said: “I started by raising funds from the talks I give to various groups around Gwynedd and Ceredigion on historical Welsh topics and instead of taking expenses asked that they make a donation to Llys Cadfan Amenities Fund.

“I then started a JustGiving site on Facebook and raised a few hundred pounds.

“This was far short of what was needed so I applied to the Calor Gas Community Fund and the application was successful.

“Despite taking place during the start of the pandemic and the first lockdown many people were generous and it didn’t matter if it was £1 or more as it added up.”

Dilys added: “One woman donated £1,500 from the sale of face masks she’d made, and three young children raised funds by cycling miles over a month.

“We also had a donation of £400 from Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn from their non-uniform day at Christmas.

“The project raised nearly £10,000 so we could buy two wheelchairs and a shed to store them while not in use.

“The money also bought other things to enhance the lives of those in Llys Cadfan such as daffodil bulbs, planters, jigsaws, a 42-inch Smart TV, art materials, and many more items.”

She added: “I am extremely grateful to everyone who donated during a time of financial uncertainty for so many.”

Commenting on seeing the beach wheelchairs finally in use, Dilys said: “It was quite something seeing them for the first time at the launch on Thursday, 24 June, but I was emotional seeing them used by two service users and seeing some of the staff again.

“Due to the pandemic I haven’t been able to visit my friends living with dementia and the staff at Llys Cadfan for over 16 months.

“I must add that the stars in all this, and they are my heroes, are the staff who work every day, lovingly caring for those living with dementia.

“The staff at Llys Cadfan are incredible individuals who are caring, thoughtful and very special people.”

She added: “All the projects were greatly supported by Egni Abergynolwyn Energy, a Community Benefit Society, as it was a requirement for all the funding bids that a registered entity was behind the applications. Without their support we could not have received any funding at all.”