A women’s group which helps organise social events through the medium of Welsh has raised just over £26,000 for Wales Air Ambulance.
Merched Y Wawr’s National President Geunor Roberts named the lifesaving service its Charity partner during her two years in office. Her term came to an end in August 2025.
The organisation, which was established in 1967, has thousands of members across Wales.
Geunor was ‘inspired’ to raise funds for the Charity after clinicians attended an incident opposite her home five years ago.
She said: “Mountain-bikers from Corris near Machynlleth were filming on a very steep, narrow crag called Tap Nyth yr Eryr, near Bwlch y Groes, Llanymawddwy.
“One of them had a dreadful fall in an inaccessible place. A normal road ambulance couldn’t reach him, and they wouldn’t have been able to stretcher him out either.
“We watched in awe as the air ambulance came to his assistance and gave emergency medical care at the scene.”
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 critical care.
When Geunor was appointed National President, she called on her members to help raise funds for the Charity.
She has been overwhelmed by the ‘generosity’, with ‘thousands of items’ donated and sold on stalls at the Eisteddfodau, agricultural shows and car boot sales.
She said: “Many clubs and branches of Merched y Wawr have contributed by holding their own events to raise money.
“Members in Ceredigion raised a substantial sum with an evening of styling curly hair and a very successful carol service was held in Carmarthen.”
Geunor is also grateful for the support she has received from the local community.
She said: “A farming family at the foot of Aran Fawddwy decided to give a share of donations from walkers and climbers who park on their land through our appeal, even though they usually donate the money directly to the charity.”
The former teacher’s local branch in Mawddwy, recently hosted a ‘fashion and fizz night’ with ‘as new’ clothes donated by members and modelled by them. Which she says was ‘a brilliant sociable evening.’
Geunor added: “We have sold items on Vinted, and our National Director Tegwen Morris took a stall to Clarach car-boot sale, as well as donations from individuals, the list goes on.
“The support has been outstanding, and I am very proud of our members for all they have done to help us raise as much as we can for Wales Air Ambulance.”
Merched Y Wawr promotes women’s issues and supports culture, education and the arts in Wales. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact Merched y Wawr Office on 01970 611 661 or email swyddfa@merchedywawr.cymru.
Phae Jones, Director of Income Generation at Wales Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to extend our gratitude to all the members of Merched Y Wawr for their incredible support during 2023/25.
“The Wales Air Ambulance family has been deeply moved by their mission to raise as much as they can for our Charity.
“Just over £26,000 is an incredible amount and will help save lives. To put that into context, the amount is equivalent to covering the cost of eight lifesaving missions.
“Charity partnerships are key to our survival; they ensure we can continue to be there for patients whenever and wherever they need us.”
