THREE more worthy causes have received donations totalling £2,500 from the Ray Gravell And Friends Charitable Trust.

The Carmarthenshire Branch of the National Autistic Society and the British Heart Foundation's 3D Scanner Appeal for Morriston Hospital each received a cheque for £1,000, and Carmarthen student Cecilia Peru received £500 towards her 12-month volunteering stint as a primary school teacher in Dakar, Senegal.

"This generous donation will enable the branch to provide an invaluable support service for families in Carmarthenshire living with autism," said Marie James, of the NAS county branch.

"It enables us to provide a service where families can meet with each other, gain support, and arrange family gatherings and information sessions. We are extremely proud and honoured to have been considered worthy of this donation," she added.

Wonderful

British Heart Foundation's fundraising manager in Carmarthenshire, Jayne Lewis, said the £1,000 donation was a wonderful gesture and was another step forward in the campaign to get a 3D Scanner for Morriston Hospital.

Carmarthen student Cecilia Peru will pack her bags next month and embark on a 12-month adventure in Senegal as a volunteer teacher and aid worker. Cecilia had to go through a rigorous selection programme and will spend most of the time teaching in a primary school.

"I will be teaching various subjects including drama and music, but at the same time improving my French and hopefully learning new languages. I am extremely grateful to the Ray Gravell And Friends Charitable Trust, as the donation will help me achieve something which could change the rest of my life, and is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," she said.

Applications for trust donations are continuously being considered and organisations or individuals are invited to apply by sending a written application to the trust headquarters, c/o The Stradey Park Hotel, Llanelli, SA15 4HA.