Ian Botham Walk Raises Over £850,000

The Ian Botham Walk raised an amazing £852,384 for the Noah's Ark Appeal. Appeal Director, Suzanne Mainwaring said, "This was a wonderful effort by Ian and Kathy Botham and their team who all gave up nearly two weeks of their own time to raise money for the new Children's Hospital for Wales. Ian, Mike Gatting and their team of walkers went through several pain barriers before the finish in the Cardiff Castle.

"Support for the walk from people across Wales was almost unbelievable. Schools. Councils, and thousands of well wishers on the route contributed hugely as did the Dyfed Powys and South Wales Police Forces. Our patrons, Catherine Zeta Jones and Charlotte Church were terrific.

"Tesco has contributed £103,000 as part of the £500,000 they are raising for a ward in the new hospital. The Lord Mayor of Cardiff made a cross party donation of £250,000. The media responded magnificently across Wales and special thanks are due to Red DragonFM, the Welsh Mirror and the Western Mail who have championed the Appeal from the outset.

"This all means that the Appeal stands today at £4.4 million. Administration expenses are currently running at around 7% of income (against a charity industry norm of 25%). Expenses are therefore likely to total around £350,000. Simple maths means then that we need to raise just under a million pounds to reach the initial target of the Noah's Ark Appeal. Clearly there is still a lot of work to be done but I must thank the highly committed staff and volunteers at the Noah's Ark Appeal who worked so hard alongside the Trustees of the Appeal.

For Information please contact Philip Carling at the Noah's Ark Appeal on 029 2033 5236

Ian Botham Arrives in Cardiff

Ian Botham arrived in Cardiff on Saturday 27th April, marking the end of his magnificent trek from Machynlleth in aid of the Noah's Ark Appeal. Ian had walked 220 miles to raise money for Wales' first children's hospital and on reaching the nation's capital received a well deserved hero's welcome.

Botham and his team came across the barrage from Penarth and entered Cardiff Bay's Oval Basin, where two thousand fundraisers were gathered to join him for the final two miles. From this point, Ian was also accompanied by Appeal patrons Charlotte Church and Catherine Zeta Jones.

The walk moved swiftly towards the city centre as the crowd tried to match Ian's pace. Led by a band, the procession arrived at Cardiff Castle where Russell Goodway, the Lord Mayor, greeted Ian with champagne. The crowds were entertained by a lively soul band and Red Dragon radio's Jason and Emma before the victorious walkers took to the stage.

In the evening, Cardiff's Lord Mayor hosted a Gala Dinner in honour of Ian Botham. Charlotte Church sang for her fellow guests, who included the entire Walk crew, Noah's Ark Appeal trustees and staff, Catherine Zeta Jones and hundreds of supporters of the Children's Hospital for Wales. A raffle, charity auction and further entertainment made for a great evening and raised more money for the new hospital.

The Appeal Chairman and the Lord Mayor of Cardiff congratulated Ian and his crew on their achievement and thanked them for their wonderful effort.

Photos from the Botham Walk and the Gala Dinner can be seen and purchased at http://www.mirrorpix.com.

Catherine Zeta Jones Joins Ian

Catherine Zeta Jones, Patron of the Noah's Ark Appeal, will join Ian Botham on the last stage of his fundraising walk from Machynlleth to Cardiff. She is flying in to Cardiff to take part in the Lord Mayor's Walk from Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Castle on the afternoon of 27 April.

She will then attend the fundraising Gala Dinner being hosted that evening by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff at Sophia Gardens to honour Botham for his magnificent effort in raising more than £850,000 on behalf of the new Children's Hospital for Wales.

"Ian Botham's contribution to the success of the Noah's Ark Appeal has been immense", said Catherine. "On behalf of the Appeal, I am thrilled to be able to play a small part in celebrating the completion of his trek across Wales which has been so well supported by so many people across the country".

"It's great to have Catherine, one of our two Patrons, joining us in Cardiff and we all look forward to meeting her, said Botham. " I just might be a little tired by then but with Charlotte Church, the other Patron of the Noah's Ark Appeal singing for us at the Gala Dinner, it promises to be a great day in Cardiff. We are expecting thousands of walkers to join us on the Lord Mayor's Walk from the Oval Basin in Cardiff Bay to Cardiff Castle where family entertainment will follow the official end of the walk."

Chairman of the Noah's Ark Appeal, Stanley Thomas said, " It's going to be great fun. Ian might be at the end of some 220 miles but Catherine will still have to go some to keep up with him! On a serious note, though, we are very grateful indeed to Ian, Catherine and Charlotte for all they are doing to help us build the new Children's Hospital for Wales".

Texaco Support for Ian Botham

Texaco is donating £5000 to the Noah's Ark Appeal in support of Ian Botham who is walking from Machynlleth to Cardiff in April to raise funds for the new Children's Hospital for Wales. This generous support from Texaco is supported by many of the company's staff in Haverfordwest who are taking part in a payroll-giving scheme which includes staff at the Pembrokeshire National Parks and Pembrokeshire College.

Ian Botham will walk from Cardigan to Tenby on 21st and 22nd April. The support from Texaco is part of a wide-ranging fundraising initiative by Pembrokeshire County Council who aiming to raise the £25,000 needed to sponsor and name a room in the new hospital.

A major event will be staged at Oakwood Park in mid summer. The High Sheriff will host fundraising luncheon in April and a golf day is planned for 20 June.

Noah's Ark Appeal Director Suzanne Mainwaring said, "The support we are receiving in Pembrokeshire is quite marvellous. Ian Botham is already assured of a terrific welcome as he walks through the countryside. We are very grateful indeed to both Texaco and Pembrokeshire County Council for all they are doing".