Patients receiving cancer treatment in Withybush Hospital will benefit from cosy cushions and touches of home in the future, thanks to the fantastic fundraising work of a local youngster.

Earlier this year five-year-old Elly Neville, from Pembroke Dock, came up with the idea to raffle her prize-winning collage of the Pembrokeshire flag to raise funds for the refurbishment of Withybush’s cancer services.

The cause is close to the youngster’s heart, her father, Lyn, was a patient at the Chemotherapy Day Unit (CDU) and Ward 10 after a bone marrow transplant in 2005.

The idea took off and in a few short months Elly’s flag has raised nearly £3,000. The raffle has now ended but thanks to the generosity of winners, Marilyn and Peter Mitchell, the flag is still being used to raise funds.

Elly and her family recently met with Hywel Dda chief executive, Steve Moore, and it was decided that the money raised by Elly’s flag should go towards patient experience, or as Elly put it:

“Plumpy cushions and fluffy blankets, so people in hospital could be comfy”.

In a letter to the family Mr Moore said:

“It is so often the environment and the small things that make a really big difference to the comfort of patients as they go through a really difficult time with their cancer treatment and those are the elements that fundraisers like your family and others can help provide.”

“No funding is ever given for patient experience,” added Elly’s mum Ann Neville. “We are hoping that this news will encourage even more people to donate.”

Elly and her flag will be raising funds and awareness on the Hywel Dda stand at Pembrokeshire County Show this week.

You can still support Elly’s fundraising efforts by going to www.justgiving.com/ward10flag or going into any Pembrokeshire Branch of Barclays Bank and quoting "Elly's Ward 10 Flag" or by texting FLAG88 and the amount (£2, £5 or £10) to 70070.