A charity dedicated to helping to find missing people in Wales held an extra special day at Chepstow Racecourse last week. Friends and family of missing Caldicot man James Nutley, who went missing in Tenby, and the wife of missing Goodwick man John Birtles were on hand at the meeting on Monday to support Missing Wales’ Race Day.

Janet Williams of Missing Wales was at the Race Day and was pleased with the turn out for the event. Geraint and Sian Bowen of Bethesda Fresh Farm Meats in Narberth who also attended the event said, “it was a great day at Chepstow Racecourse and a fantastic way to raise awareness for the charity."

Over 150 children and adults are reported missing each week in Wales. Missing Wales was officially launched in January 2007 and is a charity dedicated to helping trace missing people from Wales and supporting their families. They provide a 24hour/7day a week free phone helpline.

They try and make contact with the missing person via the local media and newspapers, also putting up posters in areas where there have been any reported sightings. Their aim is to support and advise any person who has gone missing and wishes to contact them, either to pass on a simple safe and well message home or, if possible and safe to do so, re-unite with their families.

They also aim to help their families through what is obviously a very difficult time. One of their objectives for the future is to set up support groups in each county throughout Wales.

A large proportion of reported missing people are teenage “runaways”. 1 in 9 young people run away before the age of 16, mostly at age 14 or 15. Children out alone in the streets are very vulnerable; they can very easily be led into a life of social exclusion, drugs, vagrancy and crime. If they call the Missing Wales helpline they will be offered help and advice. Hopefully it will be possible to re-unite them with their families but in some cases they will be helped in approaching the appropriate authority for further assistance.

Their confidential help line is on 08000 12 17 17. For more information about Missing Wales, their website is at www.missingwales.co.uk .