Barry Round Table and Barry 41 Club has launched a year-long campaign to raise £5,000 for Ronald McDonald House, enough to fund a family room for a year and support families with sick children receiving hospital care.
The fundraising drive was inspired by the experience of Paul and Claire Bethell, whose young son Dylan was diagnosed at just three weeks old with pulmonary lymphangiectasia—a rare lung disease.
Dylan, believed to be the only case in Wales and one of just five in the UK, has spent most of his life in and out of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, with regular emergency admissions and extended stays in intensive care.
The Bethell family said: “We cannot thank this wonderful organisation and staff enough for all the help and support they have given and continue to give, not just to us but every single family that requires it at their time of need.”
Dylan has undergone multiple surgeries and treatments, including scoliosis reconstruction, and in 2025 faced double pneumonia three times and a viral brain infection that temporarily shut down almost all of his bodily functions. He has now been diagnosed with chronic liver disease.
Ronald McDonald House provided the Bethells with free accommodation throughout Dylan’s hospital stays, offering them stability and comfort during an incredibly difficult time.
The fundraising campaign will officially launch on Friday 26 June 2026 from 7pm with a charity bingo night at Barry Town United’s Jenner Suite. Other planned events include a static bike ride from Barry to Billericay and back, to be held at a local supermarket.
Barry Round Table and Barry 41 Club aim to raise £5,000 over the year, enough to fund a family room at Ronald McDonald House for 12 months. That goal, the clubs say, will help ensure other families in similar situations have access to the same vital support.
Updates on the campaign and upcoming events will be shared throughout the year on the Barry Round Table website and social media channels.
Tickets for the launch bingo night are available at www.trybooking.com/uk/GPNR.
