A Stafford golf club has donated £1,500 to the Wales Air Ambulance in memory of a much-loved Pembrokeshire mum who sadly passed away last year.
Tragically, Jodie James, 33, who was a single mum to her son Kaleb, died in August 2025 following a cycling collision.
Jodie, who loved cycling, was described as ‘the kindest person you could meet’ and is deeply missed by her family and friends.
The Castle Golf and Leisure Club donated to the all-Wales Charity in memory of Jodie.
Jodie’s uncle Alex, a member of the golf club, and his colleague, Steve Kenney, took part in a separate cycling fundraiser from Liverpool to Leeds, in aid of Katharine House Hospice, which is the golf club’s chosen charity.
On the second day of the ride, Alex and Steve wore t-shirts in memory of Jodie, with Alex riding one of her bikes.
Alex said: “I asked our golf club’s officials for a small donation to the Wales Air Ambulance, and I explained the great work Wales Air Ambulance did on the day of the accident. They came back with a donation of £1,500, which I thought was amazing.
“Jodie was a huge inspiration to me and inspired me to take up cycling. I saw the effect it had on her physical and mental health; she lost around six stone, gained a massive amount of confidence and regularly completing rides of more than 50 miles. On the day of her accident, she was undertaking her longest ride to date, a route of nearly 80 miles, but sadly she was unable to complete it.
“It’s been a year since she passed away, and her family are still struggling to come to terms with her loss but we have taken a little comfort in the fact that she was on the donor register and the family have been informed Jodie’s decision to become an organ donor has helped a large number of people regain their health.”
Following Jodie’s accident, the Wales Air Ambulance critical care team flew Jodie to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where she sadly passed away.
Jodie’s family said: “We are eternally grateful to Wales Air Ambulance for its incredible care and professionalism at the time of the accident and the swift transportation to hospital in Cardiff. These actions allowed her family to hold her hand one last time and gave the opportunity to say goodbye. Thank you to the Wales Air Ambulance for everything you did for us and the many other families you help.”
The Wales Air Ambulance service is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatment to patients and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered through a unique partnership between the third sector and public sector.
The Wales Air Ambulance Charity needs to raise the £13 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.
Jodie’s uncle, Alex, visited the Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Dafen with her brother Adam, and her nephew and niece Atlas and Lilith, to present the Charity with the donation from The Castle Golf and Leisure Club.
Mike May, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager for the area, said: “A huge thank you to Alex for choosing to support our Charity, and to the Castle Golf and Leisure Club for its generous £1,500 donation after learning how Wales Air Ambulance came to Jodie’s aid.
“Jodie sounded like a wonderful lady who is dearly missed by all who knew her. It is incredibly touching that Alex chose to support Wales Air Ambulance after losing his much-loved niece.
“The Charity needs to raise a significant amount of money every year to keep the service running. Thoughtful donations like this will help us continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most. We are incredibly grateful for this support from Jodie’s family and Castle Golf and Leisure Club.”
