Twenty retailers have stepped from behind their tills to ‘move a mile a day’ and help raise vital funds for Wales Air Ambulance.
The Castle Court Shopping Centre team in Caerphilly set themselves a mission in July to boost their fitness and support the lifesaving service.
They covered 1,115 miles between them walking, running, hiking, paddling or cycling.
Hannah Clark, 39, has been the Shopping Centre Manager for almost four years. Part of her role is to coordinate fundraising activities.
She said: “We are in a prime spot, right next to the iconic Caerphilly Castle! We attract on average 123,000 visitors per month.
“We have a bandstand where dance groups and buskers can perform, and local clubs and charities hold fundraisers. It’s a fantastic place to work, live and explore.”
The mum of two, who commutes from Llandough, added: “We fundraise for two charities each year, and we nominated Wales Air Ambulance for our fitness challenge.
“If there is ever a serious medical emergency in the town centre, the helicopter lands not far from where we are.
“As you can imagine, the helicopter attracts a lot of attention, when it parks in the grounds.
“It holds a special place in many people’s hearts around here, we all know someone who has benefited from the service.”
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 lifesaving care.
The Castle Court Shopping Centre team felt ‘inspired’ by the work of the lifesaving service and wanted to raise as much as they could during July.
Hannah said: “We are a tight-knit community, and when we set ourselves a target, we go for it. Originally, we planned to cover 620 miles between us, but we doubled that.
“We kept each other motivated through our WhatsApp group and kept up to date on the mileage covered through Strava. It became quite competitive at times.”
The ‘move a mile a day’ proved so popular, as a fitness and wellbeing activity, that the staff have kept their Strava Club open.
Hannah said: “The event has been so uplifting, and the feedback has been incredible. Some tenants wanted to get fit and lose weight, others wanted to start healthy habits.
“The weather was quite hot at the time, so for some who had not exercised for years, it was a struggle.
“For those who suffer with their mental health, getting outdoors each day, has been transformative, and made a huge difference to their wellbeing.
“This has turned into something more than fundraising, it’s brought us all together and who knows, we might end up doing a 5k or half marathon!”
The Castle Court Shopping Centre Strava Club has helped raised just over £1,000 for Wales Air Ambulance.
Christian Sullivan, Wales Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager said: “It’s fantastic that a ‘mile a day’ in aid of our Charity, has inspired the creation of a fitness club!
“We are grateful to the Castle Court Shopping Centre team for choosing Wales Air Ambulance as the beneficiary of their fundraiser.
“They have clocked up an incredible 1,115 miles between them and helped raised over £1,000.
“Every pound raised makes a lifesaving difference, ensuring that we continue to be there for the people of Wales, whenever and wherever they need us. Diolch yn fawr!”
