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17th July 2018

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A Welsh charity has helped raise £10,000 for Wales Air Ambulance, enabling the purchase of an advanced in-flight incubator.

Women in Wales is a charity which supports children’s charities in Wales through their annual ladies luncheon.

This year, Women in Wales chose to support Wales Air Ambulance and Save the Children as their nominated charities. The 26th annual luncheon which took place on Friday, April 20, at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff raised £10,000 for Wales Air Ambulance’s specialist paediatric division – The Children’s Wales Air Ambulance.

The event which was attended by over 400 guests proved popular, with attendees enjoying entertainment from Britain’s got talent semi-finalists Richard and Adam and a keynote from Ewan Venters, Chief Executive of renowned upmarket department store Fortnum & Mason.

Chair of the event, Jayne James said: “The Women in Wales lunch has become a firm fixture in the social calendar of so many ladies.  This year it was attended by 450 guests. The success of the event is due to a hardworking committee and the support of numerous businesses, who are all proud to be involved with this event, which has supported children’s projects in Wales for 25 years.”

The money raised during the luncheon has enabled Wales Air Ambulance to purchase a fourth ‘babypod’ incubator which is used to transport neonatal and paediatric patients safely during flight.

Wales Air Ambulance Fundraising Manager, Mark Stevens said: “We are extremely grateful for the support Women in Wales have shown our charity. The incredible amount raised has enabled us to purchase a fourth ‘babypod’ which is already proving invaluable to the service provided by the Children’s Wales Air Ambulance.”

A cheque for £10,000 was presented to Wales Air Ambulance Helicopter Transfer Practitioner, Dewi Thomas during a specially organised event on July 3.

The Children’s Wales Air Ambulance is a specialist paediatric division of the Wales Air Ambulance charity providing expert care and transport for the youngest patients in Wales. In 2017 alone, the Children’s Wales Air Ambulance helped 332 paediatric and neonatal patients. Alongside the three emergency aircraft, the Children’s Wales Air Ambulance is on standby 365 days a year.