Professor Meriel Jenney appointed as one of LATCH's first patrons

LATCH Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity is launching its 40th anniversary milestone year by appointing two new patrons — including Executive Medical Director Professor Meriel Jenney.  

Professor Meriel Jenney, Executive Medical Director of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Mr Edward Watts MBE DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Gwent and Chair of Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) have become the charity’s first patrons. 

LATCH Welsh Children’s Cancer Charity was established in 1983 to provide support to children, young people and their families, who have received a cancer or leukaemia diagnosis and are under the care of the Oncology Unit at the Children’s Hospital for Wales, in Cardiff.  

The charity provides practical, emotional and financial services to families and provides support to the Children’s Hospital for Wales Paediatric Oncology Unit through funding medical equipment and a range of clinical and research projects. 

Professor Meriel Jenney has a long-established connection with LATCH through her work as a Consultant in Paediatric Oncology at the Children’s Hospital for Wales since 1996. Professor Jenney led the children’s cancer services in Wales for over two decades.  

She has a longstanding research interest in clinical trials in childhood sarcomas and the development of measures to assess the quality of life of children who have received treatment for cancer in childhood 

Mr Edward Watts MBE DL has been a volunteer for many charities for over fifty years and has a strong personal connection with LATCH. 

Lieutenant of Gwent and Chair of Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO) 

Over the past forty years due to the outstanding fundraising of our supporters, LATCH has provided over £15 million to provide services to children and families in West, South, East and Mid Wales. Today, the charity helps on average 120 families at any one time. The charity works in partnership with the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to provide holistic support to children and families under the care of the Paediatric Oncology Unit. 

Mrs Susan Gwyer-Roberts, Chair of LATCH said: “We are delighted to welcome Edward and Meriel as the charity’s patrons as we launch our celebrations marking this important anniversary milestone for the charity.  

"We thank them for accepting this high-profile role and we look forward to their contribution to the future development of LATCH. These roles will complement further the dedication and proactive commitment of our loyal supporters which is a key feature of the charity since its creation in 1983 at the University Hospital Llandough. 

In addition to its family services, LATCH has supported a range of capital investment projects at the Children’s Hospital for Wales, including in 2021 a £1.2m major refurbishment of Rainbow Ward, the lead centre for paediatric oncology in South and West Wales. 

Mrs Gwyer-Roberts continued: “This investment by the charity was able to confirm its commitment to support patients, their families and the clinicians through the transformation of Rainbow Ward. LATCH’s mission is to continue building on these achievements in the next 40 years.” 

To mark the 40th anniversary LATCH will be arranging a series of events in 2023. For further information, visit the charity’s website on latchwales.org or visit LATCH Welsh Children's Cancer Charity | Facebook.