The Drew Barker-Wright Charity is so grateful to all those who take their time, love and energy to help raise vital funds in Drew’s memory. This page is to acknowledge all the efforts of our #TeamDrew Champions.
Please read their stories and get inspired.
Sue Phair
A huge thank you to the wonderful Sue Phair who challenged herself with a One Mile Open Water Swim on September 19th in aid of The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. It was a chilly morning when we joined Sue at The Prom in Brecon where she took on the river Usk. She was amazing!!!! Thank you Sue x
Lily
Recently, we heard that a sweet little girl called Lily had been diagnosed with the same skull based paediatric chordoma as Drew. Lily’s mum, Emma, contacted us for advice. Over the last few weeks we have offered support and guidance where we can. Friends of the family have very kindly organised a charity event to raise funds for The Drew Barker-Wright Charity, and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, where Lily is being treated. We cannot thank them enough for their support during such a difficult time xx
Molly
We want to give an ENORMOUS thank you to this wonderful young lady. Molly started a little school challenge and has ended up sewing nearly 30 cotton masks and raised over £375 for charity. She has donated the funds to 2 childhood cancer charities – the
Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group – CCLG
in memory of her cousin Esme , and The Drew Barker-Wright Charity in memory of our darling Drew. She is a very special girl, we love her to bits, and we are incredibly grateful for her efforts
Owen Sheers
We’d like to thank author and playwright Owen Sheers for raising money for Drew’s charity when he walked the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Owen continues to support Drew’s charity and we are so pleased to have him onboard.
Hayley Sharp and Lillie Flawn-Powell
A huge thank you to family friends Hayley Sharp and Lillie Flawn-Powell for making beautiful Christmas wreaths for us to sell this year. They were so popular and raised much needed funds for the charity. Thank you ladies xx
Amanda Bloom
We would like to thank Amanda Bloom and her Little Box of Crochet. Amanda chose to support our charity this Christmas and include our charity Christmas cards on all her Advent Crochet Boxes. 1000 in total!!! Thank you so much Amanda x
The Osborn’s
We’d like to thank The Osborn’s for having their own family Halloween Run. They looked super scary!!!
Nicola and Sarah
Nicola and Sarah took part in The Hay Runner’s 6 hour Spinning (r) marathon in 2020, We are so grateful for their time and energy and the funds they raised through their efforts. We hope their bottoms weren’t too sore!?!
Jo Lord
We are always so grateful for the support of local fitness guru Jo Lord, aka The Hay Runner. Despite the pandemic, she organised an online 6 hour Spinning(r) Marathon and brought people together from across the UK raising in excess of £2000. Cheers Jo. We love you x
Flores-Amador family
We would like to thank the Flores-Amador family, who have been fundraising for #dbwcharity in the US. The youngest member of their family, Noah, is currently being treated for #PaediatricChordoma. Through their efforts they’ve raised an incredible £8000!!! Every penny of which will help fund research into this ultra-rare #childhoodcancer.
Annette and Jane – Talgarth
Jane and Annette are Drew’s two honorary Aunties. They met Drew at 3 days old and saw him nearly every day during his time with us. He loved them both and always referred to them as ‘the ladies’. They have both fundraised with such energy in Drew’s memory and their recent 80’s Disco night was a massive success raising over £600. Thank you both for your friendship, love and ongoing support.
Cameron Jack – London
Actor Cameron Jack, who played bad boy Connor in Emmerdale, is an old college friend of Drew’s mum. He wanted to take on a big challenge in memory of Drew and on 30th June he completed Judgement Day, an insane 12km assault course at Pippingford Park, raising £2073.75. Thank you Cam, you Crazy Braveheart.
The Dimmocks – Brecon
We received an amazing donation of £1000 from Kelly and Dave Dimmock. They recently renewed their wedding vows at Buckland Hall and the proceeds from the bar were split between two charities, Drew’s being on of them. We know their family is going through their own heartbreaking journey and we are so grateful to them for the generosity they have shown us. Love and light to you all. MJ&D xxx
Melanie Colivet – Solihull
Melanie contacted us when we announced that we were setting up a charity in Drew’s memory. She is a dedicated runner and had just won lottery entry into the London Marathon. She asked if she could run the event in Drew’s memory and raise money for The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. We were so touched and accepted her offer immediately. After a winter of hard training, she completed the race and raised £2496. Well done Mel. You really are a star.
Sal & Sue – Brighton
Two wonderful local ladies, who decided to take on the Brighton Marathon in Drew’s memory, trained through one of the worst Welsh winter’s we’ve seen in a very long time. Their dedication paid off and they successfully competed in the race, raising £1193.40 for The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. Thank you ladies. You’re the best.
The Westenders – Brecon
Local amateur dramatics group, The Westenders, supported Drew during his illness and have also helped raise funds for the charity in his memory. They have had collection buckets at their Christmas pantomimes and have raised just shy of £5000 for Drew’s cause. We are so grateful to them for their support.
Mid Wales Dance Academy – Brecon
Drew used to attend baby ballet, which he adored, at Mid Wales Dance Academy. The school is run by Lesley Walker and her daughter Megan. Both these lovely ladies, their teachers and the mums and dads whose children attend, have been hugely active in raising funds for The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. We thank them all from the bottom of our hearts for their ongoing love and support.
#TeamDrew Cardiff Half – Cardiff
To everyone who has run, is running or will run with #TeamDrew at the Cardiff Half Marathon. You are all inspirational people who have supported and continue to support our family through the most difficult of journeys. We love you all xx
Evie & Lizzie Cavenagh – Brecon
Evie and Lizzie are two of Drew’s friends. Evie is 7 years old and Lizzie is 5. When we were all training for the Cardiff Half they were concerned that they couldn’t take part. So, they took it upon themselves (with some help from mum) to hold their very own cake sale at their school. The event was a huge success and they raised £140 for The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. Darling Evie and Lizzie, we love you very much and are very proud of you.
Natalie Turner – Luton
Drew’s God Mother, Aunty Nat has set up her own charity in Luton, as a tribute to Drew. Catch Up for a Good Cause allows women from all walks of life to come together, share their lives with each other and fundraise for worthy causes in the process. As Drew was 4 years old when he passed on, Natalie will always donate 40% of CUFAGC fundraising to The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. You are an honorary member of our family Nat. Love you.
Nancy Morgan, Impact IT Solutions – Bristol
Nancy has been a huge support to us and Drew’s charity. She donated numerous prizes for our raffles and donated towards our TeamDrew T-shirts. Both she and her assistant David Burreddu have also designed our website. They have shown us so much patience and understood everything we have wanted to achieve. Thank you so much. Mx
Spencer Williams – Warwick
We met Spencer in October 2016, when Drew was admitted to Neurosurgery at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. His son Oscar was recovering from a broken back after a MotorCross accident. Spencer and his family watched our story unfold before them and stepped in to support us, as we were so far away from home. After Oscar returned home, Spencer continued to visit us, bringing us home cooked food and giving moral support. He is the person responsible for setting up our original online fundraising page and we will always be incredibly grateful to him for doing so. Thank you Spence, it all started with you, Mr Squeaky.
Ben Davies – London
Ben is Drew’s Godfather and visited so many times when he was in hospital. Always laden with colouring books and pens. Ben came up with the design for Drew’s logo, which we are so pleased with. He encapsulated everything magical that Drew believed in and everyone loves the design. Thank you Ben. We know Drew loves it too.
Ellie Wright & Mia Buonaguro
Els is Drew’s cousin. She felt passionately about raising money for him. She got together with her best friend Mia Buonaguro, a jewellery designer “My Good Omen”. Together they came up with a design especially for Drew. Drew’s Peter Pan Pendant is made from a chrysoprase, a beautiful green stone which promotes joy and happiness, whilst healing the heart of energies like depression and anxiety. Els and Mia shipped over 56 pendants far and wide and raised £540.80 in the process. Thank you girls, for your beautiful idea and for working so hard making them all. You are both priceless.
Angel School of Dance – Chepstow
Owned and run by Angela Fryer with her friend and assistant Pat Cannon, Angel School of Dance have made The Drew Barker-Wright Charity one of their main recipients of all their fundraising. Their recent dance school calendar raised an amazing amount and we received over £600 from them. They are two wonderful ladies, who are always full of energy and ideas and we are extremely grateful for everything they do to support us in Drew’s memory.
The Baker’s Table – Talgarth
Owned by Nicola Craven, The Bakers’ Table was always Drew’s most favourite place for a Babychino and cake. It was also the hub of local fundraising whilst Drew was in treatment. Nicola, her husband Bryan and all the staff at The Bakers’ Table continue to be a huge support to our family, helping organise and host numerous events and social evenings. Nicola recently turned 50 and asked that family and friends donate to The Drew Barker-Wright Charity in celebration of her birthday, instead of gift giving. She raised £800 from the occasion. Nicola, your un-ending love and generosity are inspiring. We thank you from the very bottom of our hearts.
Ty Cariad – Brecon
Local business Ty Cariad supported Drew while he was in hospital and has continued to support his charity over the last year. They have held regular Emma Bridgewater raffles and also donate all carrier bag payments to The Drew Barker-Wright charity. We would like to thank the owners Rebecca Dolphin and Emma Laverty for their continued support.
Kelvin Jobling – Florida
Kelv is a very dear friend of the family who lives in Florida. A keen marathon runner, last year he took on the awesome task of a 50 mile ultra marathon up and down Santa Rosa beach; raising an amazing £500 for Drew. Thank you Kelv, we love you.
Our Local Ladies – Wales
This amazing group of local ladies, Sara Jane White, Steph Peters, Sharon Lindsey, Sue Hackett, Mandy Meredith, Steph Laycock and Anne Hillyer, took on a 25 mile sponsored walk along Wales’s beautiful coastal path, in memory of Drew. Together they raised a jaw dropping £1100. We are so grateful to them for their efforts and their ongoing support. Go girls……….
Talgarth Fire Crew – Talgarth
Whilst Drew was at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Talgarth Fire Crew started ‘Shine Through for Drew’. This was a regular car cleaning event, where they asked customers to donate to our charity in return for having their car washed and professionally hosed down from the fire engines. It was a huge success and pulled in quite a crowd. The crew were also kind enough to provide a Guard of Honour at Drew’s funeral; something we will always be indebted to them for.
Llangorse Primary School – Llangorse
Drew had just started attending nursery at Llangorse School when he was diagnosed with paediatric chordoma. The school very kindly donated the proceeds from their bucket collection at their Christmas concerts in 2016. They have also asked us to help plant a tree in Drew’s memory at the new school grounds, which is due to take place later in 2018. We thank them for their ongoing support.
Talgarth Primary School & Puddle Ducks – Talgarth
Drew had been attending play group at Puddle Ducks, based in Talgarth School since the age of 2. When Drew was diagnosed they held a Pirate & Fairy day for Drew and students donated money to his cause. We were, and always will be overwhelmed by their love and generosity.
The Old Railway Line – Three Cocks
The Old Railway Line is our local garden centre. Drew used to love spending time there, especially at Christmas when they assemble a wonderful Christmas landscape train set.
In February 2017 they held a charity bingo night for Drew and raised a substantial amount of money. Thank you so much for your support.
Eric Low OBE – Edinburgh
We were put in touch with Eric when we originally decided to set up a charity as Drew’s legacy. Eric talked us through the whole process, both guiding and offering advice along the way. He made a mind boggling legal process seem achievable and kept us on track when making important decisions. He has been our guardian angel and we will always be indebted to him for his love, time and energy. Thanks Eric, you truly are a #TeamDrew Champion.
Sara Morgan – Pengenfordd
We owe a huge amount of gratitude to Sara. She has been such a support in helping us set up The Drew Barker-Wright Charity. She has given her time and energy freely and guided us through a complicated process. She has helped organise charity events and is always on the phone when we need advice. She has also just completed the Paris Marathon where she directed those her wished to donate to all her efforts, towards Drew’s charity. Thank you, Sara. What would we have done without you.
DONATIONS
It would not be possible to do what we do without your support. Drew’s charity is run on a voluntary basis, so every penny you donate, really does a make a difference.
