The Gwent Voluntary Branch of Leukaemia Research with help from the business fraternity has raised more than £776,000 since it was set up in 1979.

The Gwent Branch of the Leukaemia Research Fund was formed in November 1979 after the five-year-old son of Mandy Womack, from Bassaleg, became ill with the disease.

At the time, her husband, Bruce, was a manager with NatWest and together they formed the local branch of Leukaemia Research. Sadly her son, Timothy died the following year.

NatWest managers and staff from the Newport area have been involved since the start and for the second year running the bank has donated £1,000 towards the annual vintage car rally organised by the branch and held at Tredegar House.

The donations were made to acknowledge the work and time given by Roger Wood, NatWest's business development manager in Newport, who has been one of the rally organisers since 1995, together with his wife, Imelda.

It also recognises the assistance of other NatWest staff, all of whom have been involved with the rally for many years. The bank's donation helped bring the total amount raised by the 2007 Rally to nearly £45,000.

The first rally was held at Tredegar House in1980 and despite torrential rain 68 cars entered and the event raised £683. Since then it has gone from strength to strength with last year's event attracting 1,300 exhibits and raising more than £45,000 taking the total amount raised since 1980 to £576,000.

Newport's Mayor Councillor Cllr Allan Morris recently invited 25 members of the branch to the Mayor's Parlour to celebrate their success. He also presented Bruce Womack, the main organiser of the rally, with The Leukaemia Research Fund's Special Certificate of Merit, for his tireless work for the charity. There have only ever been 169 of these awards presented and three of these have been awarded to members of the Gwent branch.

Roger Wood said: "The branch is run entirely by volunteers and it's fantastic to see how much can be achieved by a small group of dedicated people. I'm delighted to be associated with the group and it's great that my employer NatWest is willing to support my community involvement."

10:32am Thursday 27th March 2008

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