04/07/2026
When I was just 21 years old, alongside my partner Kate, we decided to be brave. We took a leap that so many people told us not to take and opened Sparkles – Merthyr Tydfil’s very first LGBTQ+ friendly bar.
It wasn’t just a business. It was a safe space. A place where people could be unapologetically themselves, make friends, celebrate who they are, and know they belonged. We poured every ounce of our hearts, time and savings into making Sparkles something special.
And somehow… it worked.
Life felt like a dream. The community embraced us, the venue thrived, and seeing people laugh, dance and make memories in a place we’d created was the greatest feeling in the world. We genuinely believed we’d found our purpose.
Then everything changed.
Out of nowhere, my health completely collapsed.
My digestive system simply stopped working the way it should, and despite countless hospital appointments, investigations and tests, I remain a medical mystery. Even now, doctors still don’t have the answers.
Every single day is a battle.
I’ve lost over seven stone. I’m now so small that I struggle to find clothes that fit. My body is constantly exhausted because it isn’t getting the nutrition it desperately needs. Something as simple as getting out of bed can feel like climbing a mountain. Living with a chronic illness doesn’t just affect your body, it slowly chips away at every part of your life.
The hardest part wasn’t what was happening to me.
It was watching the business I love so much suffer because my body could no longer do what it once could.
I’ve always been hands-on at Sparkles. I loved every second of it. Losing the ability to be there physically broke my heart.
That’s when my mum stepped in.
Without hesitation, she took on the physical workload that I simply couldn’t manage anymore. She has been my absolute rock, my superhero and, quite honestly, the reason Sparkles is still standing today.
Even then, I refused to give up.
I continued doing everything my body would allow. I booked the entertainment, managed our social media, organised stock orders, planned events and supported the business from the sidelines. I refused to let my illness take away something I’d worked so hard to build.
Because Sparkles isn’t just a bar.
It’s my heart.
It’s my dream.
It’s a home for so many people who finally found somewhere they felt accepted.
Today, though, we’re facing a different kind of heartbreak.
The cost of everything has risen, footfall has fallen, and we are no longer bringing in enough to cover our bills. Despite fighting every single day, both personally and professionally, we are now facing the devastating possibility of closing our doors forever.
I honestly never imagined I’d find myself writing these words.
I’m already fighting one battle every single day just to survive with an illness that nobody can explain.
Now I’m fighting another to save the business that gave my life so much purpose.
I’m living through two nightmares at once.
If you’ve ever visited Sparkles, laughed with us, celebrated with us, found friendship within our walls, or simply believe places like ours deserve to exist, I’m asking from the bottom of my heart for your help.
Every customer, every ‘I’m just having one’, brings us one step closer to keeping our doors open.
And if you’re unable to join us, simply sharing our story could make more difference than you could ever imagine.
Thank you for reading my story.
Thank you for believing in us.
And thank you for giving us hope when we need it most.
With all my love,
Freya ❤️
