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It's official - Merlyn is Barry's Best Dad! (From Barry And District News)
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It's official - Merlyn is Barry's Best Dad!
4:40pm Friday 3rd July 2009
A GRANDFATHER who took the title of Barry’s Best Dad has donated the prize to charity.
Merlyn Woodward, aged 54, was named the best dad in a competition run by the Ship Inn, in conjunction with the Barry & District News.
His entry beat dozens of hopefuls to win a £30 family meal at the pub, a £10 drinks voucher and a limo ride – which he has decided to donate to a charity which raises funds for Muscular Dystrophy.
The retired mechanic, of Amherst Crescent, said: “I was really pleased to win – it was unexpected.
“But I have decided to put the limo ride up for auction to raise money for charity, as my grandson has muscular dystrophy and we are trying to raise all we can for Duchenne, the charity trying to find a cure for the condition.”
Merlyn was nominated by his two sons and daughter to win the Best Dad award, for his dedication to all of his children, but particularly his cheery nature with his son Mark and daughter-in-law Marie, whose son Rhys is suffering from the muscle wasting disease.
Merlyn said: “Rhys will be in a wheelchair by the time he is nine and people with the condition don’t live much past 20, so we are going to do our best for him.
“He has to be able to do as much as other boys his age while he can, and when the time comes, he will have to have the best wheelchair that allows maximum movement.”
Of the dozens of entries, the Ship’s landlord Alun Baker said his application had been a favourite among the staff.
“I gave the entries to the staff, without names, and they read through them – this was the winning entry, which is nice given the fact that we held the action day for the family last week,” he said.
“Merlyn said he would put the limo ride up back up for charity, so I am hoping to hold an auction in August as another fundraiser.”
If you would like to donate to the charity visit www. actionduchenne.org
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BEST DAD: Merlyn Woodward took the title of Best Dad in Barry – and donated the prize to charity.
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