A kind-hearted schoolgirl has raised £300 for the Wales Air Ambulance after she needed the service as a baby.
Ten-year-old Rhian Ferraro, from Newcastle Emlyn, organised the cake sale as part of her Brownies Charity badge.
When Rhian was just ten weeks old, she stopped breathing at home and was rushed to her local GP surgery. The Wales Air Ambulance was quickly dispatched to the scene and flew a poorly Rhian to hospital in Cardiff.
Rhian who had a large hole in her heart, was monitored in hospital for two nights before returning home.
Her mum, Vicki, said: “Rhian was sent home with an open invitation to go to the children’s ward at Glangwili Hospital, if needed. It was needed pretty much every 3 weeks for 18 months thereafter for pneumonia and chest infections. Rhian is great now, although she still has heart scans every two years, but seems to be ok.”
Rhian, who has two younger sisters Ffion and Nia, set up the cake stall at her school Ysgol Y Ddwylan and her 176 delicious cakes/cheesecakes sold out in just 20 minutes!
Rhian is a member of the Teifi district Newcastle Emlyn Brownies and raised the funds for charity as part of her Brownies charity badge.
Reflecting on the support they received with the cake sale, her proud mum, said: “I was very impressed that we managed to raise £300 in just 20 minutes!”
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.
As a pan-Wales service, the dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Mike May, Regional Fundraising Manger for the area, said: “A huge thank you to Rhian for supporting our Charity. Rhian and her family know firsthand how important our service is to the people of Wales. It is heartwarming to hear that ten years on from needing the service, Rhian has raised funds for us. She should be extremely proud of herself, and she definitely deserves her new Brownies charity badge.
“The Charity needs to raise £13 million pound every year to keep its helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers, like Rhian’s, will help the Wales Air Ambulance continue to meet that yearly target.
“Thank you, Rhian, for raising an incredible £300 for the Wales Air Ambulance, your fundraising will help us save more lives across the country.”
