Childhood cancer tears holes in lives but Christmas is a particularly challenging time for cancer parents. Welsh charity, the Morgan’s Army Charitable Foundation, founded by Natalie Ridler and her husband, solicitor Matt Ridler, aims to help with its special Christmas Appeal to help families across the nation.
Morgan’s Army is a charitable foundation, pledging to support families of children diagnosed with cancer in South Wales through helpful initiatives and supporting major projects of children’s cancer charities in South Wales.
Founded by Natalie and Matthew Ridler (a Criminal Solicitor at Gomer Williams) after their son Morgan’s cancer diagnosis, the Morgan’s Army Charitable Foundation supports South Wales families affected by childhood cancer. Morgan passed away in June 2023, but his legacy endures through the charity’s commitment that ‘no one fights alone’.
The campaign
This Christmas, Morgan’s Army plans to share the realities of supporting a child with cancer through Christmas.
It hopes £5000 through this seasonal campaign to help provide financial support to families who need it most to enable them to make the best of Christmas.
The pressure of making the most of special moments because the future is uncertain. There is no promise that your child will see another Christmas and that horrible fact weighs heavy on a parent’s mind.
For bereaved parents, the ache of a Christmas forever changed and forging ways forward as a family with a piece missing.
Making the most of Christmas whilst on reduced (or no pay) because you need to be off with your child. The stress of additional bills and balancing precious time in a world that is money driven. There is no promise that the pressure improves once your child beats cancer, that worry and anxiety will always be there. That need to make the most of every moment when you carry the PTSD of having watched your child battle cancer.
How to donate & share
The charity has a fundraising page for the campaign and welcomes donations large or small. Every penny counts and will make a difference to families in Wales.
To donate, click here.
For more information on the Morgan’s Army Charitable Foundation, visit morgansarmy.co.uk
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Banner image: This picture is of Rhiannon, Morgan’s sister, with Morgsbear, a bear that holds Morgan’s laugh- and a physical reminder that her brother is still with her in spirit.
