Outgoing Inner Wheel Chair raises thousands of pounds for military charity in Wales

03 July 2024

The tenure of Brenda Scourfield, from Carmarthen, as the District Chairman for Rotary International’s Inner Wheel District 15 has ended, and so too has her year of fundraising for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

Daredevil Brenda – who did a skydive for SSAFA last year – was a nurse for a remarkable 47 years before retiring in 2017. She then put her invaluable experience and skills to another use as a Well-Being Officer at a local school, specialising in teenage mental health.

Brenda explained her fundraising for SSAFA, saying: “A few families move to the area when they leave the Armed Forces, and I became aware of SSAFA when the mother of children at the school told me that her husband found civilian life very difficult.

“A short while later, she phoned me to say that the children’s father had committed suicide.”

She added: “That’s when my journey for raising money for SSAFA began.”

Reflecting on the past 12 months, Brenda said: “Well. I can’t believe how fast my year as District Chairman for Inner Wheel has passed.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the year and it’s been an honour to raise awareness and talk about SSAFA as I’ve visited the 19 clubs in my district.”

Through Brenda’s efforts, some £4,621 was raised for SSAFA, funds that will support serving and former military personnel, and their families, in Wales.

SSAFA’s fundraising officer for Wales, Annie Lawrie, said: “Brenda is an amazing woman and champion for SSAFA, and it was an absolute pleasure to meet her and her like-minded Inner Wheel ladies at their annual general meeting last week, and on behalf of everyone in Wales being helped by SSAFA – and those who will be in the future – thank you, Brenda.”