A group of four friends who met whilst working at an oil refinery are taking on a 64-mile cycling challenge in aid of Wales Air Ambulance this weekend.
Dave Moore, Derek “Dez” Nicholas, David “Bogie” Knight, and Adam Murphy will be pulling on Charity jerseys when they compete in the Black Rat Sportive on Sunday, 17 May 2026.
64-year-old Dave, who is retired and from Fishguard, says they chose the lifesaving service because it came to the aid of one of their riders.
He said: “Through the years, we have supported dozens of Charities in our region. I’ve always been into fitness challenges, competing in triathlons and marathons.
“When I was working at the Murco oil refinery, we would rally a large number; we had around sixteen at one time. We would do everything from rowing events to cycling and running.
“We have supported Wales Air Ambulance in the past, but one of our group, David Knight, suggested that we make it the Charity of choice for this year’s fundraiser, because they came to his aid.”
David, who is known as “Bogie” among the biking community, suffered serious injuries after coming off his motorcycle in an incident on the A483 in 2000. He was travelling from Llandovery to an event in Builth Wells when he was involved in a head-on collision with a car.
He said: “All I remember was hearing brakes squealing coming down the hill. It was so quick I didn’t have time to brake; I was travelling in my lane when the next thing I was airborne.
“My motorbike hit the car, I catapulted over the top of it and travelled a few yards down the road, landing on a metal barrier, which had a massive drop down the side of the mountain. I was lucky I didn’t go over the top.”
He was travelling with two friends at the time, one had gone on ahead, but another rider, who was an ex-firefighter, was close behind.
The father of two said: “Tony could see the car was up against a metal barrier on the edge of the bend – my motorbike was half on the barrier and half on the car. He could not see me as he came up. He parked up and spotted me on the floor. I was pretty bashed up.”
Both the Wales Ambulance Service and Wales Air Ambulance attended. With David being flown to Glangwili Hospital. He required a spinal block to enable his leg to be straightened.
He also underwent surgery on his leg and hand, with pins inserted into his hip and knee to stabilise his broken femur and a wire inserted into his dislocated thumb.
He said, “It took six months for me to recover from my injuries. Just talking about it still makes me feel emotional; it’s the realisation of how lucky I was that day. It could have been so much worse.”
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.
David said: “It’s incredible that the Charity must raise such a large amount each year to ensure the service keeps running.
“That’s why it feels very special doing our bit to help. We have already raised over £1.6k on our Go Fund Me page, and Impala will be match-funding the final total.”
The Black Rat Sportive is a cycle ride centred around the Wye Valley and Monmouthshire. Riders will cover 64-miles with about 3,600 feet of climbing.
Mike May, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “It’s always hugely inspiring to see our past patients making such an amazing recovery after suffering terrible injuries.
“We are grateful that David nominated us as the chosen Charity to benefit from the group’s fundraiser at the Black Rat Sportive.
“Our Charity relies on fundraising activities like this to ensure that we can attend patients whenever and wherever they need us.
“Every pound raised this weekend will make a lifesaving difference. Diolch yn fawr!”
