Sponsored to the tune of nearly £300, four intrepid Abergavenny girls recently zip-wired off a cliff at Chepstow, suspended 70 metres above a flooded quarry.

Lorraine Jenkins and friends Lucy Carr, Davinia Antrobus and Claire Morgan then organised a raffle with prizes donated by local companies.

The total of £1,113 raised has been used to buy presents for Nevill Hall Hospital’s special care baby unit (eight Christmas stockings), children’s ward (twenty gifts), children’s centre (toys for waiting rooms) and children’s centre Christmas parties (thirty gifts).

In addition Nant Celyn received fifteen gifts each for its ASD unit and hard of hearing unit, Crownbridge School received 110 gifts for disabled children and Craig Y Parc school received thirty gifts for disabled children along with seven gifts and a gift bundle for the communal area of its residential home.

“We decided to fundraise as I have a disabled son myself, who attends Nevill Hall, and know first hand what it’s like for families to be in hospital with their children during the festive period,” Lorraine explained.

“We wanted to put a bit of happiness into what may be a difficult time for families and children.

“So many families and children are in hospital for Christmas. So many disabled children are unable to go home. Christmas is about giving, love, appreciation and spreading happiness.

“A gift to a child at Christmas who is in hospital or residential care is in fact much more than just a gift. For some children it may be their first Christmas and for others it may be their last.

“These gifts may become memories for a parent to treasure or they may be all a child needs to put a smile on their face!

“That’s why we zip wired off the cliff - to raise money for Pete the Polar

Bear, Dexter the Dog and Santa and his helpers to visit poorly or disabled children young people and babies over the festive period. Dexter even completed the zip wire!

“I really want to say a massive thank you to Lucy, Davinia and Claire. None of this would have been possible without them.

“We also want to thank all the local businesses that donated raffle prizes - and we’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community in purchasing raffle tickets and giving us offers of help.

“Tesco in Abergavenny is also getting involved in the run-up to Christmas by placing a trolley at the front of their store from November 21 so customers can donate gifts of chocolate.”