A grateful Aberaeron dad will be taking on a 100 mile ultra marathon as a thank you to the Wales Air Ambulance medics who flew to his young son’s aid after he suffered serious burns in an accident.
Paul Davies’ son Harri, 12, was 18-months-old when he suffered the accident, which resulted in hot liquid spilling on his arm and causing serious burns.
Paramedics attended Harri, and due to the severity of his injuries called for the assistance of the Wales Air Ambulance. Once stable, Harri was transported swiftly via helicopter to Morriston Hospital, a specialist hospital for his injuries.
Paul, who is also dad to Emily, 10, said: “Living in a rural part of Wales, where main hospital services can sometimes take a few hours’ drive to get to, the Wales Air Ambulance is such a valuable service to the community.
“For Harri to receive immediate help from the burns unit, he was airlifted to Morriston Hospital in Swansea, meaning the 1.5-hour car journey took less than 10 minutes.
“As parents, me and my wife, Rachel, will be forever grateful for the help they gave our son that day. Fundraising events, like this one, are so important to the air ambulance as they rely heavily on charitable donations, so I really wanted to give something back to them.”
Next month Paul will be joined by his friend, Police Officer, Leighton Daniel, a dad-of-two, to take on the mammoth challenge. They will start at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, and finish at Edinburgh Castle.
They hope to complete their 100 miles in 48 hours in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance and Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital. Through their fundraising they are also hoping to purchase a defibrillator and some essential equipment for Llanon Juniors FC.
The two dads hope to raise £5,000 for the causes and have so far raised an incredible £3,000 towards their fundraising target.
Training has been going well for the Ceredigion men, and they have been putting in the hours of training in preparation of the challenge.
Paul who completed an ultra-marathon in 2020, which saw him running 70 miles from Carlisle to Newcastle within 16 hours knows first-hand ‘how much preparation and dedication’ this type of challenge requires!
Paul, who works as a general manager of Y Seler, said: “By putting in the miles now, we are not only preparing ourselves for the massive challenge of the event, but it will also help us with the speed of recovery afterwards.
“We try to plan time for runs and walks together, but it is sometimes impossible with us both working different shift patterns. As I work in hospitality, I have adapted my training plan around work and family life. This often means waking up at 4am to run for a few hours or even running after I finish work.
“We both understand that the more effort we put in now, the easier the event will be for us.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third sector and public sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Paul and Leighton are pleased to have the support of their friends and family, Paul said: “Family and friends have been amazing, they know I love challenges and support me massively. Some friends laughed when I decided to take on this challenge, not because it was unrealistic for us, but because we are aiming to complete it in one go rather than in stages, adding even more pressure!
“Everyone who knows me will know how stubborn I am, and when I do something I want to do it wholeheartedly, giving 100% effort.”
Elaine Orr, Regional Fundraising Manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “It is always heartwarming to hear of families who have needed the Wales Air Ambulance’s help, and go on to raise funds for us. Paul and Rachel know firsthand how important our service is to the people of Wales, when Harri needed to be treated and airlifted to hospital.
“A huge thank you to Paul and Leighton for picking our Charity as one of the three good causes to raise funds for. They’ve set themselves an epic challenge, and we wish them well with their training and on the day. Fundraisers, like this one, will help us continue to be there for the people of Wales, whenever they are, when they need us most.
“Show your support to Paul and Leighton by helping them reach their £5,000 fundraising target.”
Paul and Leighton’s fundraiser will take place on Saturday 19 July. You can show your support to them by donating through their JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/paul-davies-271
