The mum of three-year-old Morgan Ridler has just been further recognised for her admirable charity work following the death of her son in June, 2023, from a rare and complex form of cancer. The family from Swansea said at the time that he was “peaceful and comfortable”, and surrounded by love.
Morgan passed away just before his fourth birthday, but his memory has lived on thanks to his mum’s drive to help others. Despite her grief, Natalie Ridler was determined to help other families going through similar difficulties in south Wales. She set up the charity Morgan’s Army, which has now raised over half a million pounds and has become a lasting legacy for their little boy.
They have now received recognition from The One Show as part of its ‘big thank you surprise’, where people doing amazing things are included in the show and treated to something special. For the latest Swansea news, sign up to our newsletter here
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The One Show headed to Cardiff where they filmed Natalie in Chapter Arts Centre as part of the secret operation, inviting her initially to do an interview as part of a “local news story”. But what she was unaware of was that she would be later invited to sit with the cast of Pobol y Cwm, Wales’ longest running soap opera which Natalie is a fan of, at an exclusive Bafta Cymru screening of the show.
Midway through the interview where Natalie was speaking about the charity, a member of the team, posing as a Chapter Arts staff member, entered the room to offer Natalie and her family the opportunity to join the screening. Keen to join, but still none the wiser, Natalie entered the auditorium with her family.
Once everyone was sitting down, Sue Roderick, who is one of the show’s biggest stars, was responsible for leading the surprise, giving a speech on stage about the importance of the show, and offering Natalie her own personal shout out. She said: “Good evening, everyone. One of the main reasons behind the successful longevity of the show is the strong feeling of family that is at the core of everything we do.
“There is one person in the audience tonight who exemplifies this more than most. Someone who helps others and has spent a huge amount of time raising £500,000 to help families and children going through a cancer diagnosis. That’s right, we’re talking about Natalie Ridler. Are you here? There you are.” Natalie put her hand up, and was invited onto the stage with her husband, Matt, where Sue continued: “Now, Natalie, we’ve all got to come clean here.
“The Pobol Y Cwm team and all the people who came with you tonight have been conspiring to give you a lovely surprise. You’re actually here because we’ve been asked by the One Show to give you a diolch yn fawr, a one big thank you.”
Several people appeared on screen, including people who have benefitted from her work, alongside her daughter, and One Show host Alex Jones, praising her for her work.
Meanwhile, Natalie and Matt watched, looking moved by the surprise. They were also treated to a personal invite to go and watch some of the show’s filming one day next year. Expressing some of the difficulty the family had faced with losing a child, Matt said in a clip on the show: “Hearing the words ‘your child has cancer’, it is life changing. For Natty to have lived through that grief, to do what she has done, it is phenomenal.”
A later clip showed him adding: “She has been my rock all the way through this, and I am so proud of everything that the charity has managed to do so far and that it continues to grow to ensure that no-one fights alone.”
It comes after the Ridler family were named Courageous Family at the Child of Wales awards held in Swansea on Friday, September 27. You can find out more about the charity and how to support Morgan’s Army on their website here.
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