A Cwmbran pub hosted an outdoor event in its car park to raise money for a charity that has supported a local teenager with a rare kidney condition.
Chloe Phillips, 14, was diagnosed with cystinosis when she was one. Kidney Care UK says it affects one in 200,000 people and “causes the kidneys to leak essential salt, water and potassium, which can eventually lead to kidney failure and the need for dialysis or transplant.”
On Sunday 25 May, the Halfway pub in Old Cwmbran was packed with regulars, along with her family and friends enjoying live music and entertainment.
Popham Kidney Support
It was held to raise money for Popham Kidney Support – a charity that has helped Chloe and her family.
Cwmbran Life spoke to Chloe’s mum and dad, Rhys Phillips and Danielle Clissett, outside the pub.
Rhys said Chloe’s condition will “get worse, the older she gets,” but added that his daughter has become the “poster child” for the condition thanks to how her mum has kept on top of her meds.
Chloe is currently taking 58 tablets a day to manage her condition.
He said that “kids with her disease usually go to about [age] eight before they have to have a transplant”.
Rhys hopes to be a kidney match
She will eventually need her first transplant and Rhys hopes he will be a match. He said: “I’ve been tested and I’ve got the right bloods for her, a 95 per cent chance that I’ll be the match.”
Over the next few months, he’ll have more tests to hopefully confirm that a transplant can take place between father and daughter 🙂
I asked him how they felt about Popham Kidney Support and the Halfway pub.
Rhys said: “What the kidney centre [in Cardiff] has done for Chloe has been amazing. They’ve done so much for her.
“We’re all here today to raise money for that charity. Today is unbelievable. It means the world.”
‘Fabulous donations from the community’
Kym Crosby was one of the event’s organisers. She said: “I’ve known the family since Chloe was born, really close to my heart. We’ve had fabulous donations from the community, over 97 raffle prizes at the moment.
“I wasn’t expecting half as much as we’ve done. Andrew ‘Biggie’ Morris was here, he came down for an hour and a half. He was brilliant.”
Tracey Cox, Chloe’s grandmother, said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed. Oh my gosh, I actually cried.
“It’s been so overwhelming. I cannot thank everyone enough. It’s been phenomenal, honestly.”
View more photos from the day in this Facebook Life gallery.