The Halloween Party

The 3rd and the spookiest annual TJF Halloween party was held in the fantastic setting of Caerphilly Castle on Tuesday, 30th October 2007. The lights were dimmed and the Great Hall was decorated with pumpkins, devils and ghosts in the hope of enticing the Castle’s own resident ghost "The Green Lady" to join us for the party!

26 families from the Heath Hospital attended the event along with supporters including several Miss Wales contestants and staff from Vodafone & Legal & General. In all about 155 people enjoyed the night and the walkway to the Castle looked spectacular as supporters dressed up and held pumpkins to light the way across the Castle drawbridge. Entertainment for the evening included circus tricks, balloon making, quiz games and a fantastic fancy dress competition where all the families including mums and dads made a huge effort.

The hog roast proved a great success and really added to the ambience of the Castle. 13 families were provided with limo transport to the Castle and returned to their respective hotels in Cardiff after the party.

Bristol Zoo

The following day on the 31st October, 21 families joined us for a day trip to Bristol Zoo. 1 coach left from Cardiff Museum and another from Cardiff West Services arriving in Bristol Zoo for 11am.

A great day was had at the zoo with the children enjoying all the animals on display but the favourites had to be the penguins and the sea lions, several of the children took part in the falconry display in the arena. Families were provided with money for lunch and proceeded to take over the restaurant at 1pm!

During the coach journey home animal colouring and quiz competition prizes were awarded and left over Halloween party food devoured before everyone fell promptly asleep. 10 families then stayed a further night in Cardiff hotels.

Comments received from families

"We stayed in a lovely hotel everyone was very friendly and helpful. We were picked up by a limo and my daughter thought she was queen bee, to top the night off she won best dressed for her age group and had a huge Winnie the Pooh bear that was bigger than her. We would like to thank everyone involved in giving these children a fantastic time. Can’t wait to see you all at breakfast with Santa!"

"The Bristol Zoo trip was well organised and enjoyed by all the family - my daughter won the colouring competition and we won the family quiz on the coach - what a day! Thank you very much for a lovely day."

"We all attended the Halloween party and the trip to Bristol Zoo. We had wonderful accommodation at The Vale Hotel in Hensol, the staff were very friendly and helpful and the standard of room was brilliant. The Halloween party was great as always although the Castle really added something extra to the ambience. The zoo was great fun and the added activities of a quiz and colouring competition kept us busy all day. Many thanks to all concerned."

"Wow what can we say – we had such a fantastic Halloween party. It was so well organised from the limo to the party, the food was excellent, we all had a wonderful night. Thank you Joshua Foundation to all concerned keep up the wonderful work you do the children appreciate it."

"We attended the Halloween party, we all had a fantastic time, my daughter especially enjoyed it and even won the fancy dress. Thank you very much!"

"My family and I would like to thank you for the great Halloween party we came to especially my mum because she won the fancy dress competition. We also really enjoyed our trip to Bristol Zoo."