June 08, 2026 - 152 views
A group of mischievous North Walians will find themselves behind bars this September as part of a fun-filled fundraising event supporting vital hospice care across the region.
St David’s Hospice is calling on supporters to nominate friends, family members, colleagues, bosses and partners to take part in its annual Jail and Bail challenge, which will see a host of “inmates” locked up on Llandudno’s iconic Big Wheel on Friday, September 4.
The light-hearted fundraiser will see participants accused of a range of tongue-in-cheek “crimes”, from telling terrible dad jokes and stealing the office biscuits to booking late-afternoon meetings or other playful offences.
Once arrested, the mock prisoners will be transported from St David’s Hospice on Abbey Road aboard Llandudno’s land train before being escorted to their “cells” on the seafront attraction.
To secure their freedom, each inmate will need to raise at least £999 in “bail”, with every penny helping St David’s Hospice continue its specialist care services for people living with life-limiting illnesses across North Wales.
The day promises plenty of entertainment, with prisoners expected to endure a series of humorous challenges, including prison-yard style exercises on Llandudno Pier. They will also head into the town centre in costume, encouraging donations from members of the public and helping raise awareness of the hospice’s work.
A spokesperson for St David’s Hospice said: “We are appealing to our supporters to nominate their friends, colleagues, bosses or partners for any tongue-in-cheek crimes that have been committed.
“It could be a dad that tells bad jokes, a boss that scheduled meetings at the end of the day or a colleague who nabs all the good biscuits – we guarantee whatever their crime, lots of fun will be had doing their time.”
The campaign was officially launched by Britain’s Got Talent finalists Han and Fran, who joined representatives from North Wales Police and the Llandudno Pier team for promotional photographs at the hospice, on the pier and in front of the Big Wheel.
While the event is designed to raise smiles, the cause behind it is a serious one.
St David’s Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for adults across Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey, supporting more than 1,000 people and their families every year.
The charity delivers round-the-clock care, 365 days a year, offering clinical support alongside emotional, physical and spiritual care. Its services include inpatient units in Llandudno and Holyhead, day therapy centres, bereavement support and counselling services.
Demand for hospice care continues to grow, and fundraising remains crucial to maintaining services. It costs more than £5.2 million a year to run St David’s Hospice, with only around 24 per cent of funding coming from the Welsh Government and the local health board. The remainder must be raised through community support, fundraising events and donations.
Importantly, all hospice services remain free for patients, their families and carers.
Organisers are encouraging people from across North Wales to get involved by nominating someone they know – or even volunteering themselves for a spell behind bars.
Images and updates from the event will be shared on social media throughout the day, allowing supporters to follow the inmates’ progress and help raise the funds needed to secure their release.
Anyone wishing to nominate an inmate or find out more about taking part can visit St David’s Hospice’s website or contact the fundraising team directly.
