Staff at a Welsh distillery took part in a helicopter half marathon to raise funds for a lifesaving Charity.
Members of In the Welsh Wind Distillery tied up their laces to raise over £1,800 for the Wales Air Ambulance as its chosen charity of the year for 2025.
The distillery team joined forces with the public and a running club and ran 13.68 miles around the distillery in Cardigan. The mileage was chosen as the Wales Air Ambulance helicopters are 13.68 meters long.
The successful event also saw members of the public take part, by either running or walking the half marathon by completing 42 laps of the track.
Ellen Wakelam, Chief Executive of In the Welsh Wind Distillery, said: “The amount of support we had from the community was incredible. A combined team of runners from various locations in Wales representing Mentera, Cywain and Sgiliau Bwyd a Diod came along as did a group from our local printers, EL Jones.
“One of our local personal trainers, Gwenith Evans brought one of her evening client groups along and Cardigan Running Club members really pulled out the stops, with 16 runners coming along throughout the afternoon and evening.
“We are so proud that as a small team we managed to raise over £1,800 for the Wales Air Ambulance.”
Staff at the distillery know firsthand how important the service is to the people of Wales after several close family members and friends needed the help of the Wales Air Ambulance, which ‘made all the difference to their successful recovery’.
This was the first time In the Welsh Wind Distillery has fundraised for the Wales Air Ambulance, Ellen said: “It won’t be the last time we fundraise for the Charity. We pick a charity of the year to fundraise for as a distillery and have planned to do a few different charities on rotation, of which, Wales Air Ambulance will be one.”
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 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.
As well as the helicopter half marathon the distillery also held a coffee and cake event to raise funds for the all-Wales Charity.
For the fundraising year of 2025 the distillery had set themselves the fundraising target of £1,368 and they smashed that target by raising an incredible £1,861.
Recently a couple of members of the distillery team, and their children visited the Charity’s headquarters in Dafen, where they met a medic and presented the Wales Air Ambulance with the money raised.
Ellen added: “The staff there were amazing with us all, and we all learned a lot about what the air ambulance is capable of, and how vital a resource it is.”
Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Coordinator, Emily Bell, said: “A huge thank you to everyone at In the Welsh Wind Distillery who raised an incredible amount of money for our Charity. The helicopter half marathon sounded like a wonderful way to raise funds and a huge success. We were delighted to hear they also held a coffee and cake event
“Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters flying and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers, like this one, will help us continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.
“Thank you to everyone who played a part in raising funds for us throughout the year, you’ve all played a part in saving lives across Wales. Thank you so much, we really do appreciate your support of our lifesaving service.”
