A charitable music festival, and its other associated events, has raised a record-breaking £33,500 during its last financial year.
Megaday has closed its accounts for 2017/18 and donated the money to Velindre Cancer Centre of £33,530.
The fundraising year started with the successful Junior Showcase event and was quickly followed by the Team Megaday Cardiff to Paris cycle ride that raised more than £15,000.
The Megaday weekend battled with the Welsh wet weather in the two previous years but in 2017 almost 2,000 people enjoyed the glorious sunshine on the bank holiday.
There was great support for the Saturday evening ‘100 voices sing the Musicals’ and live bands entertained the large crowd on the Sunday.
The Team Megaday 11-mile Castle-to-Castle run from Caerphilly to Cardiff was attended by over 200 runners and raised more than £7,000.
The festival has raised £334,000 for Velindre Cancer Centre since it began 23 years ago.
Megaday is a tribute to Andrew Nichols, a Caerphilly musician who lost his battle with cancer n 1995. Andrew was known to his friends by the nickname Mega, and so the event was named Megaday in his honour.
The first Megaday was held on Sunday, September 17, 1995 at Caerphilly RFC’s Virginia Park ground, with six local bands performing. The event raised over £3,600, and its success inspired the organisers to make Megaday an annual event.
In August 2001, Paul “PG” Grahame who had been instrumental in the organisation of Megaday from the outset and had performed at every Megaday with his band, PG and the Tips, also passed away from cancer and hit the Megaday community hard once more.
Following this, the Megaday organisers became more determined than ever and the music festival has been held in memory of both Mega and PG ever since.
Caerphilly Town Council’s Mayor Mike Prew is a founder member of Megaday.
The Plaid Cymru town councillor, who is Caerphilly RFC’s Secretary, said: “I am very proud to be part of the huge Megaday team which has raised so much money over many years for the Cancer Centre at Velindre Hospital.
“It’s a significant sum and will help make a difference. I am looking forward to another successful Megaday event this year.”
Peter Hopkins, one of the co-organisers of Megaday, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has supported Megaday this year. The support enables us to meet our core aims of remembering lost loved ones and have a great time while fundraising for Velindre Cancer Centre.”
Andrew Morris, Head of Fundraising at Velindre, said “Megaday has been one of Velindre’s longest and most committed supporters.
“The enthusiasm to organise the events each year, and provide fantastic entertainment whilst raising funds for Velindre over such a long period of time is remarkable.
“I would urge everyone to make a note in their diaries and attend a superb music festival raising funds for Velindre – the hospital of hope.”
Megaday 2018 will be held at Caerphilly RFC’s Virginia Park, in Caerphilly town, on Saturday, August 25, and Sunday, August 26.
For more information visit www.Megaday.net.