A wonderful day in Wales
The sun was up and shining for my early start as I headed to Llandegfedd Lake Activity Centre in South Wales for our 2024 Friends and Family Day in June to meet Trustee and Chair Tony Thornburn and Trustee Rachael Humphreys for our seventh Friends and Family Day.
The activity centre is in a beautiful setting on Llandegfedd Reservoir and offers an array of watersports, as well as land activities – for those who prefer terra firma.
The activity manager, Hannah, and her team met us and helped us set up our breakout room which was on the first floor of the water sports centre. This was a perfect indoor space for us which also had an outdoor terrace and both spaces offered stunning panoramic views of the reservoir. Once our room was setup with literature, merchandise and refreshments, we were ready to welcome our guests for a welcoming cuppa, snack and a get-to-know-you chat before the activities commenced.
For the first activity session of the day everyone could choose between kayaking, archery (both have been popular choices in previous years) or axe throwing which was new this year.
Once kitted out with safety gear and a briefing, the kayakers soon paddled off to explore the reservoir as a group. Meanwhile, the axe throwers found it strangely therapeutic to hurl – with all their strength – axes into a wooden target and the archers where soon up to speed with their bows and arrows and also hitting their targets.
Once the first activities were over it was time to head back to the breakout room for a sit down, grab some lunch, chat with others and admire that magnificent view. It’s always great to see everyone getting to know each other and the kids playing together – whether they had Behçet’s or not.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye the lunch break was over and it was time to head off for the second activity session of the day. Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is one of the fastest-growing watersports and proved popular last year so we were pleased to be able to include it again this year There was also kayaking and archery for those who hadn’t had a chance to take part in the morning.
Before I even got down to the shoreline the kayakers had already headed out on the reservoir but I managed to catch the SUPers balancing on their boards and paddling off with relative ease – not sure if I’d have been as successful! Meanwhile, the second group of archers were also doing well – hitting a few bullseyes but knocking a plastic bottle over, or some reason, proved more troublesome.
I was thankful that the day wasn’t as hot as it had been last year and although the clouds had come over it didn’t rain and it was still warm enough to sit out on the terrace with a cuppa and a biscuit (or two) during the afternoon break before the last activity of the day.
There was a choice of two watersports for the last session of the day, another chance to try SUP and katakanu’ing which is a great way to get on the water with very little chance of getting wet as it’s a very stable vessel. Back on land there was the chance to try orienteering and another new (to us) activity of laser clay shooting which proved quite a competition.
And just like that another Behçet’s UK Friends and Family Day was over for another year. It was time to say our goodbyes and head home tired but happy.
As always, I enjoyed meeting and getting to know our members, their friends and families and watching everyone have fun. We received some fantastic feedback and you will see from some of the quotes I’ve included our guests enjoyed it too.
I have already started researching centres for 2025 so keep an eye out for news in early 2025.
Gemma Darlow
Administrator
Thank you Behçet’s UK for organising a great day out. We met lovely people, had fun and look forward to the next event
TMR
I was able to have fun on the activities with people who struggle like I do
S, aged 10
We loved the activities, it was such a beautiful location and so many great things to offer! Lovely to meet people with the same illness and discuss how it’s affected us
ED
The best day ever… loved being on the water
T, aged 10
It was a great day to meet people affected by Behçet’s and share a fun day bonding
JA
Loved every minute – a great family day
LW
