A nurse practitioner who admits knitting is her ‘obsession’ has made 144 items in twelve months in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.
Nan Marsh picks up her needles each time she sits down, ‘except when on duty’.
She said: “If I see a wool bargain, I buy it! I have a huge collection; I love the colours and
texture. I have balls of wool which are vintage.
“I collect knitting patterns too; I’ve probably got hundreds – some are dating back to the 60s and 70s.”
The 64-year-old from Llanwnda has worked for the NHS since 1981 and spent many years looking after patients in critical care.
She said: “Through my job I have a very good understanding of the level of care provided by Wales Air Ambulance. I have seen the result of their work first hand.
“My husband, Neil also needed the service back in 2008, when he was injured after coming off his bike at Coed y Brenin.
“So, when we both became Charity volunteers in 2022, we were looking at ways we could help fundraise.”
In January 2025 Nan set herself a knitting challenge, she aimed to create one hundred items in twelve months. But exceeded her target, helping raise over £1,500 for the Charity.
She asks people to donate to Wales Air Ambulance in lieu of payment for her handiwork through her GoFundMe page.
Nan said: “I ask for a minimum donation of £10 for children’s wear and £20 for an adult garment.
“But there have been people who have paid £100 for the garment on top of the cost of the wool, which goes into the pot and helps save lives.
“It’s wonderful really that every stitch, really makes such an incredible difference, it’s knitting with a purpose.”
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 £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.
Nan says it is ‘hard not to feel inspired’ by the crew and ‘want to give back.’
She said: “We are just a few weeks into 2026, and I am already on my 6th item. I have decided to keep knitting throughout this year and see if I can top the amount I have raised so far.
“I am going to keep my Go Fund Me page open and just watch the total rise.”
She added: “I am a fast knitter! During one shift a colleague asked if I could knit a hat for her daughter with a hole for her ponytail. I turned it around in an evening.
“I get commissions for all sorts of things. In the past year I have made dozens of bobble hats, they are popular and I often sell them on the Charity stand at the events we attend.
“Fluffy jumpers, and the self-stripe wools are really in right now and arran is still popular.
“But my next project is a chunky throw for a sofa for a colleague’s son and girlfriend.”
Nan has jumpers that are over 40 years old in her wardrobe, some of which she made when she was in her twenties.
She said: “Knitwear never dates! I made a top last year from a 1980s Prima magazine knitting pattern. It is the most sustainable thing you can have in your wardrobe. So, if anyone would like me to knit them something, please get in touch with me via my Facebook page.”
Nan aims to raise over £2,000 in 2026 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.
Elaine Orr, Regional Fundraising Manager for North West Wales said: “I do not think there is anyone else in our region, who knits as much as Nan!
“We are just delighted that every time she picks up her needles, she is raising funds for our lifesaving service.
“I’ve got a bobble hat and hooded jumper, which I have worn a lot over the cold snap and received many nice compliments.
“144 items in twelve months! That is quite an unbelievable amount, with Nan planning to top that figure in 2026.
“We wish her every success with her knitting challenge and hope people will keep her busy over the next few months, as every stitch saves lives.”
