group of people decorate a house for halloween
Neighbours work together to decorate Church Close for the Halloween fundaiser

A Cwmbran couple teamed up with their neighbors to organise a Halloween event to raise money for Maggie’s, the cancer support charity.

Steve and Margaret Cooper, both 69, live in Church Close in Croesyceiliog. The path from the road towards their homes forms a cul-de-sac and this is where they’ve decorated the area for the special event.

Residents from across the community have worked together to create the creepy display.

Steve and Margaret Cooper with their grandson Matthew, eight
Steve and Margaret Cooper with their grandson Matthew, eight

Members of the public are welcome to visit from 5.30pm on Thursday 31 October 2024 and make a donation to look at the displays, meet the “grim reaper”, a “scary monk” and a “creepy witch.” They are also offering hot chocolates, cakes (donated by Greggs) for a donation.

Margaret had cancer 17 years ago and said: “We’ve both gone through cancer. We just thought we need to give something back to the people that need some support to keep them going as it’s an amazing charity. There are so many people affected by cancer.

“With Steve’s diagnosis now, I suppose that’s what pushed us in the end. He had bowel cancer. They then found it had gone to his stomach. They have been so brilliant at Velindre. Amazing. They are just amazing people down there. It’s strange, it’s cancer, but it’s a happy place to go.

“Every time he (Steve) goes for treatment he puts on Facebook how amazing Velindre and the NHS is, because they are. “

a toy skeleton on a wooden bench with a charity bucket
Visitors can make a donation to Maggie’s, the cancer support charith

Steve said: “I’ve been going since Covid. They are never going to get rid of it. It’s going to be manageable. They said it’s terminal, but it’s ‘terminal manageable’. They keep me going. And this sort of thing keeps me going.”

Watch a video of the event’s preparations

Where is the Halloween event in Church Close, Croesyceiliog?