A Monmouthshire supporter has won the Wales Air Ambulance’s 25th anniversary raffle after purchasing 32 tickets!
Mariana Robinson was delighted to win the first prize of £3,000 in the recent draw. The second prize winner was Anastasia Konstantynova from Swansea, who won £300, and the third prize went to John Martin from Barry, who won £150.
The raffle, which ran between 25 March and 1 June, sold over 60,500 tickets and raised over £82,000 for the all-Wales Charity.
Mariana, 72, said: “I was absolutely delighted to be the winner, and it was a timely surprise. I’d just had a large bill for my 23-year-old car the day before, so that’s why it was timely.”
She said that she may put some of her winnings towards a holiday later in the year or treat herself to a smartphone or new computer.
Artist Mariana is a keen supporter of the all-Wales Charity and will donate an original watercolour painting to the Charity for a future fundraiser.
Reflecting on why she supports the lifesaving Charity, Mariana said: “I have complex health conditions, and I live in a fairly remote rural area; I may well need to use the air ambulance myself one day.
“I’m grateful to the volunteers and team that keep this valuable emergency service going. Helicopters are not cheap to run or replace!”
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 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.
In 2026, the Charity marks its 25th anniversary. Over the past quarter of a century, Wales Air Ambulance has grown from a single aircraft operating limited hours into a nationwide, 24/7 service delivering advanced, hospital-standard care wherever it is needed – from roadsides and homes to mountainsides and coastlines. Crews now have access to four aircraft and a fleet of rapid response vehicles.
The service has attended more than 57,000 missions, providing lifesaving treatment in some of the most challenging circumstances and giving patients the best possible chance of survival and recovery.
Phae Jones, the Charity’s Director of Income Generation, said: “Congratulations to all our 25th anniversary raffle winners, and thank you to everyone who supported this special milestone fundraising campaign. The raffle raised an incredible £82,000 for our lifesaving Charity. We are extremely grateful to everyone who bought a ticket and entered the draw. You’ve all played a part in saving lives across Wales.
“Congratulations to Mariana, who has supported our Charity for many years. Buying 32 tickets certainly paid off, and we hope she enjoys spending her winnings. “Our Charity needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Our 25th anniversary raffle will help us to continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most. Thank you to everyone who entered and donated to our cause.”
