Mine Disaster Fund In £75,000 Boost

Mine Disaster Fund In £75,000 Boost

The biggest single donation to a fast growing appeal fund set up in the wake of a mining disaster which killed four men has been made.

Cash for the major £75,000 donation was raised over two days at Ffos Las Racecourse, near Carmarthen, west Wales, earlier this month.

The money has now been handed over to appeal fund patrons and family members of the victims at the racecourse.

Tragedy struck at the Gleision Colliery, near Pontardawe, in the Swansea Valley, on September 15.

The tunnel in which the men were working was flooded after a retaining wall holding back a body of water failed. Phillip Hill, 45, Garry Jenkins, 39, David Powell, 50, and Charles Breslin, 62, all lost their lives.

The Swansea Valley Miners' Appeal Fund was set up within days of the disaster and has attracted donations from around the world.

The Prince of Wales visited the area on Friday as the royal patron of the appeal fund, which already stands at £600,000 and is continuing to rise.

The huge donation presented to the appeal fund represents 12.5%, or one eighth, of its total.

Racecourse General Manager Tim Long said: "This is a massive boost to the appeal fund, and we are delighted at Ffos Las to have been able to assist in raising so much money.

"Our visitors were hugely generous in their donations. It was very pleasing to welcome the families of the miners and patrons of the Swansea Valley Miners' Appeal Fund for the formal presentation."

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