Ophthalmology staff from a west Wales hospital will be swapping their scrubs for parachutes as they take to the skies this weekend for charity.
On Sunday (11/10/26) the team of six from Werndale Hospital, part of Circle Health Group, will travel to Swansea Airport to skydive in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance.
The ‘Eyes in the Skies’ team, composed of theatre staff and eye specialist, have already exceeded their fundraising target of £2,000 by raising £5,600, with an additional £2,000 donation from Circle Health Group.
The team, which includes Sharon Pilsworth, Jayne Coleman, Cameron Jones, Louise Smyth, Lewis Holland and Eirini Skiadaresi, works tirelessly every day to help people see the world more clearly. They restore sight, support patients through complex surgeries, and witness firsthand the life-changing impact that vision brings.
The staff are always finding different ways to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance. The skydive is something that Sharon wanted to tick off her bucket list and encouraged the others to join in with the challenge.
Since 2023, Werndale Hospital has raised more than £28,500 for the Charity, thanks to the collective efforts of staff, consultants, patients and supporters across Wales.
Fundraising for the Charity is a shared effort, from the hospital’s popular Christmas Advent Raffle to individual challenges such as the Cardiff Half Marathon, completed by eight dedicated Werndale team members in 2025.
In May the team also paid a visit to the Wales Air Ambulance’s headquarters in Dafen, where they had an opportunity to take part in the Charity’s “Thank-a-thon.”
Team members from across the hospital spent time writing handwritten letters to supporters of the air ambulance, offering a personal note of gratitude to the people whose generosity helps keep the lifesaving service running.
Andre Bothma, Executive Director, Werndale Hospital said: “I’m always impressed by the willingness of our staff and consultants to get behind our fundraising activities. Whether that’s supporting an event, giving their time or taking on a challenge, their commitment is what makes achievements like this possible, and I’d like to thank everyone for their support.”
Chelsey Waters, Executive Assistant and coordinator of Werndale Hospital’s fundraising activities for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “It’s been fantastic to see the support for our ‘Eyes in the Skies’ fundraising challenge. The team have shown real courage in taking on this skydive for Wales Air Ambulance, and we’re grateful to our colleagues, patients, consultants, friends and the wider community who have supported the appeal so far. Every donation will help Wales Air Ambulance continue its lifesaving work across Wales, and we wish the team the very best of luck.”
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. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery. 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 air ambulance crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Mike May, the Charity’s South-West Wales Regional Fundraising Manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Werndale Hospital for their commitment, generosity and continued support shown to our lifesaving Charity. We wish Sharon, Jayne, Cameron, Louise, Lewis and Eirini well with their up-and-coming skydive.
“Taking part in a skydive is something most people would shy away from, but the Ophthalmology team has put themselves forward to jump from the skies in aid of our all-Wales charity, which is incredible.
“This year we have marked our Charity’s 25th Anniversary, and it’s thanks to organisations like Werndale Hospital that we can continue to deliver lifesaving, advanced critical care to people wherever they are, when they need it most.
“In three years, Werndale Hospital has raised over £27,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance, showing its dedication to saving lives across Wales.
“The Charity needs to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Werndale’s kind-hearted staff are helping us to continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most. Thank you so much, you’re all playing an important part in saving lives across our country.”
There is still time to show your support to the ‘Eyes in the Skies’ team by donating to their fundraising page
www.justgiving.com/page/werndale-hospital-skydive
