A crocheted dragon and hand-crafted memory quilt have helped raise thousands of pounds for Wales Air Ambulance at this year’s Wonderwool Wales 2025 in Powys.
The award-winning event which is held every April at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, first named the lifesaving service as its Charity partner back in 2011.
Organiser Chrissie Menzies said: “We are so pleased to continue supporting such a worthy cause as the Wales Air Ambulance through our fundraising at the show each year.
“It is such a vital service here in Wales. Residents and visitors alike who became seriously unwell or suffer critical injuries really rely on the air ambulance, especially in rural areas like Powys.”
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 Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 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.
Chrissie says ‘it’s wonderful’ to ‘get up close’ to the helicopter during base visits. She recently handed over a cheque to the team in Welshpool.
She said: “I got to see inside the vehicles. It’s amazing how much equipment fits inside such a small space.”
Chrissie met the pilot and Critical Care Practitioners before they were called out on a mission.
She said: “It is always lovely to have the opportunity to speak with the clinicians and learn more about the service.
“This time, I found out how they take the hospital to patients, providing critical care at the roadside, on a mountain or someone’s home.”
Wonderwool Wales has committed to continue its Charity partnership with Wales Air Ambulance ‘for many years to come.’
Chrissie said: “It’s wonderful after all these years to continue to grow and build our Charity partnership and this year I think we have outdone ourselves thanks to our amazing contributors.
“The Fundraising Ravelers are also involved in this, each and every year and contribute an amazing amount, boosting the overall donation from the show.”
She added: “Wonderwool Wales provides a platform for those working in the sector to showcase their businesses and chosen craft.
“It celebrates the green credentials of Welsh wool and versatility as a material for the creative arts, designer clothes and home furnishings.”
At this year’s show Rosemary Stowe who has the shop Quillies on East Street in Rayder for a decade raffled a crocheted dragon in aid of Wales Air Ambulance. Ffleur has been on display in the shop window since June 2022. It took 80 hours to make and was created by Vicki Gregory from Aberedw.
A Propeller quilt, made by Gwenda Taylor from Gwynedd was also among the incredible raffle prizes.
It has a particularly poignant back story. Kate Thomas, Regional Fundraising Manager for Powys said: “Gwenda sadly lost her special cousin Delwyn Williams last year. He was a paramedic ambulance liaison officer at Ysbyty Gwynedd and volunteered for Mountain Rescue.
“Donations from his funeral were split between Mountain Rescue and Wales Air Ambulance.
“In memory of Delwyn, Gwenda made a quilt in Wales Air Ambulance colours using a pattern called Propellor which she donated to the Charity.”
The raffle tickets sold like ‘hot cakes’ at the show, according to Kate, raising £1,729.70. Another team of crafters called The Ravelers, raised over £3,500 for the lifesaving service.
Kate said: “Eve, Angela, and Mandy, are an amazing group of women who live around the country.
“They travel hundreds of miles each year to have a stand at Wonderwool and are among our wonderful supporters. We are hugely grateful for all they do for our Charity.
“Since 2014 they have raised almost £17,000 for us, which is an incredible amount.”
Wonderwool Wales has become the ‘go to’ for crafters across the UK. It was awarded the Best Event in the Mid Wales Tourism Awards 2019/20 and has also been highly commended several years running in the Let’s Knit British Knitting and Crochet Awards.
“The event has grown year on year”, says Chrissie. She continued: “It covers everything from the start of the creative process, exhibits of sheep, through raw and hand dyed fibres, yarn for knitting and crochet.
“If you love embellishments, equipment, dyes, and books, we’ve got it all for you in one place. We have wonderful examples of finished textile art, craft clothing and home furnishings, which are sure to inspire.”
Wonderwool Wales 2025 raised £5,382.30 in total and will return in April next year.
Kate said: “I want to extend a huge thankyou to the incredible Wonderwool team for all they do to support Wales Air Ambulance.
“They chose us as their show Charity partner back in 2011 and have been fundraising for us ever since.
“We are hugely grateful to the Ravelers Trio, Eve, Angela and Mandy who are wonderfully supportive of us too and have raised an incredible amount over the years.
“Ffleur stole the show, and everyone wanted to win the beautiful Propeller quilt, so thank you to the amazing crafters and donors who helped make the raffle such a success.
“Unique fundraisers like this make such a big difference with every pound raised helping save lives.”
