A grateful mum and dad have raised over £6,000 for two important causes after their son suffered a devastating burns injury.
23-month-old Vinnie Whyatt’s parents, Paige and Jamie, have raised funds for the Wales Air Ambulance and The Children’s Burns Trust by holding a charity event and taking part in the Great Bristol Run 10k.
The successful Charity fundraising event, which took place at The Welfare, Ebbw Vale, featured live music from Rebecca Woodward and a big charity raffle. So far, Paige and Jamie have raised an incredible £6,071, and all proceeds will be split equally between both charities.
In addition to the charity night, Paige and Jamie recently laced up their trainers to take part in the Great Bristol Run 10k.
Paige said: “In April 2025, our son Vinnie suffered a devastating burns injury. On the day of the accident, the Wales Air Ambulance was called to attend and provided immediate, lifesaving care to our little boy.
“The team treated Vinnie at the scene and travelled with him in the ambulance until his care was handed over to our incredible team at Bristol Children’s Hospital, who continued to provide outstanding lifesaving care.
“This year, Jamie and I wanted to continue giving back. We wanted to raise vital funds for the two charities that have been our lifeline.”
The parents are no strangers to fundraising; last year, they raised funds for the Daisy Ward at Bristol Children’s Hospital, after Vinnie was treated there following his accident. The family said that the kindness from Vinnie’s nurses inspired his parents to begin their own fundraising journey.
Little Vinnie spent 51 days in Bristol Children’s Hospital before returning home to continue his recovery.
Paige said: “It has now been over a year since Vinnie’s accident, and although we still attend Bristol Children’s Hospital regularly for ongoing scar care, he remains the happiest, fun-loving little boy.
“He loves being a “typical” boisterous boy, always exploring, playing outside, and driving his toy cars around!”
Following their successful 10k, Vinnie’s sister Connie, and her ‘incredible’ football team, are due to climb Pen y Fan as an additional fundraiser, which will mark the end of this year’s fundraising for the family.
Although the family hope to continue to support both ‘amazing charities’ in the future.
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 £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 critical care.
Reflecting on the importance of the all-Wales Charity, a grateful Paige said: “We will forever be thankful to the Wales Air Ambulance doctors and crew who attended that day and helped save our little boy. The lifesaving care they provide across Wales is truly invaluable, and we cannot put into words how vital their service is to so many families.
“There will never be enough words to thank this wonderful team for everything they did for Vinnie and for our family. We only hope that the funds raised will help ensure they can continue to be there for the next family who needs them.
“To every single person at the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, thank you! You will always hold a very special place in our hearts.”
Phae Jones, the Charity’s Director of Income Generation, said: “A huge thank you to Paige and Jamie for raising funds for two important causes that are close to their hearts. It is very humbling that despite what the family have gone through, they have wanted to go on and raise funds for different charities that helped Vinnie. It is lovely to hear that Vinnie remains a happy and fun-loving little boy, and we wish him well with his ongoing care.
“Paige and Jamie should be incredibly proud of the amazing money they have raised for both charities. We are extremely grateful that, after Vinnie needed the care of the Wales Air Ambulance, the family wanted to give something back.
“Fundraisers like these will ensure that the Wales Air Ambulance continues to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most. Thank you to Paige, Jamie and everyone who has supported their fundraising journey. You’ve all played an important role in helping save more lives across Wales. Thank you.”
If you’d like to support Vinnie’s family with their fundraising, you can donate via their fundraising page www.givewheel.com/fundraising/12833/raising-funds-for-the-wales-air-ambulance-charity-/
