Pupils from Ysgol y Gelli put their best foot forward by walking 8 miles to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.

The nursery and reception pupils did their own take on the charity’s annual fundraising event ‘Walk Wales’ and raised an incredible £1,925 for the lifesaving charity.

Walk Wales allowed walkers a chance to set themselves a target based on the number of steps they could achieve over a one-month period from the comfort of their own homes. Each target was the equivalent of a walk between iconic Welsh castles and could be achieved at home, in the garden or during exercise, taking the dog for a walk – and even going up and down the stairs!  

Having full consideration of their slightly smaller feet the school planned a shorter route between castles, for the little ones who are aged between three and five.

They set themselves the challenge of virtually walking the distance between Caernarfon Castle and Dolbadarn Castle, which is in the village of Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon.

The children at the Caernarfon school proudly completed the challenge with time to spare by walking the school’s perimeter and around a nearby housing estate.

In December 2020, the Charity achieved its aim of operating a 24/7 service. Wales now has access to the service’s Emergency Department-standard critical care around the clock and to keep the helicopters in the air, the Charity needs to raise £8 million every year.  

Alwyn Jones, Wales Air Ambulance’s community fundraising coordinator, said: “This is a hugely amazing achievement by the children and a brilliant effort indeed having raised over £1,900 for the Wales Air Ambulance

“The Charity’s Caernarfon Airport based medics were recently called to a medical emergency at the school, thankfully, everything turned out well and the patient made a full recovery. The young lady has made a full recovery and thanked the crew by sending them a card she had drawn of the helicopter with her own personal sentiments to the crew.”

There are several ways that the public can continue to support the Wales Air Ambulance Charity. These include online donations, signing up to the Charity’s Lifesaving Lottery or by coming up with innovative ways to fundraise. Further information can be found via www.walesairambulance.com. 

Alternatively, a £5 text-message donation can be made by texting the word HELI to 70711.