President of IRFU Ulster Branch, Philip Gregg, together with Honorary Treasurer, Michael Boyd, and Chair of the Ulster Rugby Management Committee, Paul Terrington, visited Horatio's Garden Wales ahead of the club's URC win at the weekend.
The garden opened in 2022 at The Welsh Spinal Cord Injury and Neuro Rehabilitation Centre in University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff. The spinal centre is one of 11 designated spinal centres in the UK, with patients admitted from across south and mid-Wales.
The visitors met with current and former patients of the unit, hospital staff, and Horatio's Garden volunteers to hear about the impact of the recently completed garden.
Amanda Harris, who is a fundraiser for Horatio's Garden, explains from personal experience what a difference having an open, accessible space is able to make for patients.
Helen Johnson, Garden Administrator for Horatio's Garden Wales, was also on hand to share her experience of what the garden offers since opening.
It's a joy for patients to be able to come out into the garden to look at the flowers, listen to the birds, and enjoy a cup of tea with cake. I see their faces light up, as they are glad to be outdoors in the fresh air, and enjoy what the garden has to offer.
Ulster Rugby CEO, Jonny Petrie, and players, Matty Rea, Sean Reffell and Rob Baloucoune, along with Philip Gregg, recently visited the site of the next Horatio's Garden at Musgrave Park Hospital to mark the start of the build by the club's charity partner. Read more.
The final fundraising push is underway, with a community appeal supported by Ulster Rugby and match-funded by an anonymous donor raising more than £6,000 so far. The total will be bolstered by further events with Ulster Rugby at the close of the 2022-23 season.
To find out more and support Horatio’s Garden Northern Ireland, visit www.horatiosgarden.org.uk/northernireland
To support Amanda's Coastal Challenge to fundraise for Horatio's Garden, and to find out more details, visit Amanda Harris is fundraising for Horatio's Garden (justgiving.com)