A Christmas shopping coach trip organised by a local travel firm has raised £1,200 for Cancer Research UK, after tickets sold out within just two days.

Weales Wheels, based in Builth Wells, ran the festive trip to Cardiff on November 15, marking the third year of its growing charity partnership with the Llandrindod Wells branch of Cancer Research UK. The company donated the transport and driver for the day, filling the coach with passengers heading for the capital’s Christmas shops while raising funds for vital research.

The firm - well-known locally for its school transport, theatre trips and excursions across the UK - has built a reputation for supporting community causes during its 30 years in business. The annual Christmas fundraiser has now become a fixture in the calendar, run in collaboration with Ida Bufton, Chair of the Llandrindod Wells Cancer Research UK fundraising committee.

Ida Bufton said: “I would like to say a very big thank you to Martin from Weales Wheels for putting on another fantastic trip to Cardiff, which included donating the transport and driving us all, because I know how personal our charity is to him. And not forgetting Jessica who hosted the raffle on the way! I’d also like to thank everyone who came along for their generous support - it is very much appreciated and this money will make such a huge difference to Cancer Research UK. And the best bit is I know everyone really enjoyed themselves!”

It is estimated that around 375,400 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, a rise of around 20 per cent since 2009. Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest independent cancer research organisation and funds its work almost entirely through donations and community fundraising.

Ida and her volunteer committee have become a major fundraising force within Llandrindod Wells, having raised £400,000 to date - including £20,000 in the past year alone. Their efforts range from coffee mornings and raffles to birthday and funeral donations and partnerships with local businesses such as Weales Wheels.

Martin and Jessica Weale, owners of Weales Wheels, said: “Ida and her fundraising team are doing such amazing work for our local branch of Cancer Research UK and it’s great to be able to help them. We love putting this trip on and were delighted that so many wanted to come along this year - we sadly had to turn a few people away because we ran out of seats! It was such a great day from start to finish, and we love nothing more than going on an adventure with a coach full of happy smiling and laughing passengers! We’re off to the Worcester Victorian Christmas Markets next week and this trip has got everyone firmly in the festive mood.”

Anyone wishing to support the Llandrindod Wells branch can contact Ida Bufton at [email protected]. The team will also be at the Christmas Fayre at the Metropole Hotel on November 29 and 30.

The fundraising effort caps off a strong year for the Weales family, coming shortly after Toby Weale completed a hike from Aberystwyth to Newbridge-on-Wye, raising £2,100 for Mid and North Powys Mind. Further community events are planned for 2026.

If you’d like to find out more about Weales Wheel you can get in touch with them at [email protected]