A South Wales Club and Ladies Golf Captain has helped raise thousands of pounds for Wales Air Ambulance Charity in memory of her first husband.
Paula Brady nominated the lifesaving service as her chosen Charity when she was also appointed Joint Club Captain of Pennard Golf Club, in a historic first for the club.
She said: “I had the privilege of being able to nominate a Charity which meant the most to me. For me it is the air ambulance.
“Firstly, they came to the aid of my first husband Bob, who collapsed at home and needed to be flown to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. Sadly, despite receiving help from clinicians he passed away.
“My best friend also had a horrendous accident. She got kicked in the head by her horse, her skull was split right down from her hairline to the back of her head and the air ambulance treated her and took her to hospital – they saved her life.”
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 Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) which supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the charity’s vehicles.
Paula said: “The air ambulance does such an incredible job. I really do not know what we would do if they were not there to swoop in when someone is in a life-or-death situation.
“That was in the forefront of my mind when I was fundraising. The emotion was there motivating me the whole time I was doing it.”
The 58-year-old, who was a former area manager for Halifax and worked as a self-employed financial advisor, only started playing golf five years ago.
She said: “When I first started playing my boss at Halifax said, ‘I’ll give you five years, and you’ll be Ladies captain’, at the time I thought, ‘don’t be ridiculous.’
“But he was right within four years, I not only was Ladies Captain, but Club Captain too, becoming the first lady to do so.
“In my previous job I did a lot of organising, a lot of managing, and used a lot of personal skills so, it just fitted.”
Paula rallied everyone to get involved with her fundraising for the Charity and helped raise £5,000.
She said: “The Ladies section does an amazing craft fayre – once you have a designated charity you all pull together and do a Christmas Fayre. So, the bulk of the fundraising came from the Fayre, which is an all-handmade craft fayre, the silverware being particularly popular.
“We also did a pre-loved golf clothes and normal clothes sale, which were all washed and ironed. A book stall too.
“We also had collection tins on the bar, for fines and things like that.”
Pennard Golf Club also held the two Captain’s Day in August – with all entry fees donated to the chosen charities.
Paula said: “We raised more than I expected to, people were so generous, not only generous with their donations, but also with their time helping support throughout.”
She added: “Once you start talking to them about the cause, everybody says I know someone who has needed the air ambulance, so it is very important that we protect this provision.
“None of us know when we are going to need it – so it is reassuring to know that it is there should we face a critical health crisis or have a serious accident.”
Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
Paula said: “When you find out how that money can be used, it feels like I am repaying a debt for the help and support given to Bob.
“If everybody invested, they would be paying forward, for the future protection of the service and assurance that the team would be there for them if needed.”
Christian Sullivan, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager said: “It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet with Paula at Pennard Golf Club for the cheque presentation.
“It is always very moving when we hear how our lifesaving service has touched the lives of our supporters.
“We are hugely grateful that Paula chose to nominate our Charity for her year as Ladies and Club Captain. The members raised a fantastic amount, which will undoubtedly have helped save lives.
“Without the kindness of people like Paula and her fellow club members we really could not continue to do what we do.”
