4×4 Response South Wales will again be out this summer providing our support to the 9 Welsh Cancer Research UK Race for Life series of fundraising events.

In Wales, cancer death rates have decreased by around a tenth in the last 10 years, but there is still so much more to be done – around 9,100 people still lose their lives to cancer every year in Wales. The Race for Life is Cancer Research UK’s biggest series of fundraising events, taking place across the UK, the events include 3k, 5k and 10k routes for participants to walk, jog or run, as well as the Pretty Muddy obstacle events.

Started 30 years ago in Battersea ago as a women only event, Race for Life has grown into a series of hundreds of events across the country, raising nearly £940 million towards beating cancer over the last 30 years. In 2019, for the first time, the Race for Life opened its doors to men to participate too, making it truly inclusive, and giving people the chance to come together with their family and friends, and join the movement to beat cancer.

4×4 Response help out with the course set-up (logistics, course signage, posts & tape), during event marshalling and the course de-rig after the last runners finish. For our members these are very rewarding events to support, we are proud to support the Welsh events and were thrilled to be awarded a Flame of Hope 2023 “Community Organisation of the Year” award by Cancer Research UK in recognition of our ongoing support and contribution.

Welsh event calendar:

South Wales 4×4 response 4x4r are pleased to be supporting the South Wales divisionof Endurance GB (EGB) at Pembrey Forest for this years National Championshipsover the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of April.

Our responders are providing Comms, Manning Checkpoints and Marshalling stations on the various marked routes in the forest including the beach section.

Although the site is fairly level the comms have proved a problem while assisting EGB onpassed events, this has now been rectified with the addition of a mobile radio mast.

VHF handsets and Zello radios are used to relay rider numbers back to our control room.

200 horses and riders are expected for each day of this years championship this is a combination of serious long distance endurance competitors and” fun ride” entries using the weekend to access the shorter routes and beach.

Camping and caravan parking is available to our responders making this a great social event for the team.

Flame of Hope Awards – Community Organisation of the Year.

Some very proud Responders down here in South Wales.

In the annual Flame of Hope awards, we have been awarded a special commendation in the category of Community Organisation Of The Year.

This is in a year where the Flame of Hope awards have received a record-breaking 800 nominations.

A massive thank you to all the Responders involved in supporting Cancer Research this year as well as all the staff and volunteers at Cancer Research.

We learn something new every day and yesterday was no exception for a few of our responders.

Our roles within 4x4r mean we always need to stay on top of our game and our recent training done just this, from new legislations to hands on training in dressings, recovery and defibrilators means we have more knowledge to assist us in what we do.

We are by no means paramedics we will leave the to the experts although our trainer was, one valuable thing we did take away was “its better to do something even if its just a small thing rather than nothing at all”.

A few members of the team were deployed to assist Swansea Food Bank over the weekend.

It was a pleaser to assist this wonderful organisation and great to see Response assisting in the local community and showcasing one of the many diverse roles we can full-fill.

Over the weekend of 22nd October we held a training day at Walters arena. However it had an added element of being partially at night to really test our responders. As the saying goes we don’t get called out in the fine weather.

We had various exercises including, what 3 words, first on scene, and of course off road driving. We had several new members join and more experienced members. The training teams were brilliant and truly catered for all levels. All thoroughly enjoyed and gained valuable call out experience ready for the winter. The more experienced enjoyed the added challenges of the dark and the new members rose to the challenge. It was a great team building experience for all the members also as the exercises needed team work and care to not get lost in the vast expanse of Walters at night. Luckily all the team were accounted for at the end of the night and look forward to what this winter holds.

4×4 Response (South & South West Wales ) were once again proud to give logistical support for the 2022 Cancer Research ‘Race for Life’ events throughout South and South West Wales.

This is our second year assisting the Cancer Research Race for Life events, and it’s been an honour and privilege to do so.The enthusiasm dedication commitment dynamism and all round application of the RFL’ events team and volunteers is both humbling and enlightening to behold.

We, the 4×4 group Responders have been made to feel welcome and treated as ‘one of the family’ and appreciate the efforts made upon our behalf.

This season has seen RFL (Wales) events take place at Aberystwyth, Llanelli, Bridgend, Cwmbran, Cardiff, Swansea and Oakwood theme park. Each raised different challenges and emphasised the requirement for good communication and teamwork between the RFL events team and 4×4 Response to ensure the foundation for a successful day out for all concerned. A massive thank you to all of our group members who volunteered for the various events and ensured the wonderful participants were able to honour their loved ones, and raise much needed funds along the way.

The RFL events team often stated they genuinely couldn’t have coped without us, and that we as a group go above and beyond what’s expected of us. That’s very kind of them to say so, but in all honesty I think you’ll agree we just pick up on their positivity and dedication and it fuses into our resultant performance and enjoyment of each event. 4×4 Response members also attended a ‘Cancer Conversation Seminar’ at the magnificent Coal Exchange building in Cardiff Bay.

It bought together the RFL events team, Sponsors, Supporters, Fund raisers, Specialist nursing staff, Senior research personnel and Scientists.Speeches were given by Cancer Research senior management, Scientists and a poignant personal story given by a young girl suffering stage 3 breast cancer ( brave young lady, it reduced all to tears ). – amongst others too. It gave an interesting informative and surprising insight into Cancer virus recognition and treatment, research and hopefully, helping to give cures for many people suffering the curse of the big ‘C’.Firstly, a mention to both Sophie and Kimberley who have alternated Event/Course Manager duties throughout the season, and have been an absolute revelation ! Secondly, a big thank you to ‘Jim’, volunteer extraordinaire ! Jim completed all the Welsh RFL events and also took part in many other events both sides of the border raising thousands of pounds for Cancer research in the process. Jim is a cancer survivor and has a personal crusade bringing his unique personality to help ensure others get to ‘ring the bell’ after being given the all clear in future – well done mate.

So, with the 2022 Cancer Research Race for Life season nearly at an end ( Cardiff Shine event, Friday 7th October still to go) Once again, a massive thank you to all the 4×4 Responders who volunteered and assisted at the various events throughout Wales, it will be fantastic to see as many of you as possible next year. You don’t need a 4×4, – a van, car, or wheel barrow will suffice.

The Race for Life Events team is so proud of you, and you should be proud of the efforts you’ve made too – every little helps, every penny counts.

Now have a nice Christmas and see you next year. Phil Magness.

This week 4×4 Response South Wales was honoured to be invited to an award ceremony hosted by Neath Port Talbot CVS. We were presented with two awards.

The group as a whole were presented with an award for Community Group of the Year presented by Stephen Rodgers ESQ JP.

The group leader James Ward was given a Community Unsung Heros award also presented by Stephen Rodgers and accepted by John Banfield on Mr. Ward’s behalf.

We are very greatful to be presented with these awards along side so many other inspiring groups, organisations and individuals, all of which have worked hard to help others in the Neath Port Talbot area.

We’d like to thank Andrew Lambert Photography for allowing us to use these photos

. https://m.facebook.com/andrewlambertphotography?tsid=0.5508501291113823&source=result

http://www.andrewlambertphotography.co.uk/

Supporting events around South Wales is a great way for our Responders to practice the important skills that they will need in times of deployment.

This weekend was all about communications, as a team of Responders supported the Welsh Endurance Championships held in Pembrey.

4×4 Response South Wales set up and controlled the communications, as-well as manning several control points.

The challenging terrain in Pembrey called for some specialist equipment. If you look through the pictures below you will see utilised a Clark 12m pump up mast with 1/4 wave vertical aerial. Responders used Hytera business handheld radios, control used a Simoco SRM 9000 radio.

It was decided to use radio instead of Zello to give responders experience of other forms of communication available.

The great weather and fantastic views were complemented by the welcoming staff and competitors, ensuring that all Responders had a great weekend, a successful event and some even got a tan!!

Year 10 for the #Xtrem

We are truly grateful to have been a part of this fantastic event. Over the years our roles changed from simply running the car parking. To being more integral team players with many of our members becoming marshals and running the refuel team.

This year was much the same but with the added benefits of the weather at Walters arena. A few hardy responders stayed right to the end with many helping right from the set up. Showing truly we are #NotJustForSnow or in this case freezing sideways rain.

Year 10 was always going to be our last year supporting the Xtrem as The Welsh team drew the event to a fantastic finale. Soon we will be onto the #One50 and looking forward to it.