Wales Air Ambulance received a £5,000 donation after employees at Denbighshire Memorial Park in St Asaph voted for the Charity to benefit from the ICCM Recycling of Metals Scheme.
This was the first year that Denbighshire Memorial Park has supported the all-Wales Charity.
Nan Wynne Evans, Manager at Denbighshire Memorial Park, said the Wales Air Ambulance is an ‘incredibly important service for Wales’.
She said: “Wales Air Ambulance is a Charity that is very close to the hearts of many people in Wales. You never know when you, a member of your family, a friend or a colleague might need their help.
“Wales has many rural and remote areas, as well as busy roads and communities spread across the country, so being able to get specialist emergency medical care to people can be absolutely critical.”
The ICCM Recycling of Metals Scheme is run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management. Following a cremation, metals such as those from coffins or medical implants can remain after the cremation process. With the appropriate consent, these metals can be collected and recycled rather than being buried or disposed of.
The ICCM has raised over £25.7 million for charities since the recycling of metals scheme was created.
Nan said: “The important thing about the scheme is that the money raised through recycling is donated to charities. Crematoriums participating in the scheme can nominate charities to benefit, meaning that something that would otherwise have been treated as waste can generate valuable funds for organisations doing important work.
“For us, being involved in the scheme provides an opportunity to support charities such as Wales Air Ambulance, while also making sure materials are dealt with responsibly and sustainably.
“It is a really positive example of how the cremation industry can work with charities to make a difference, and we are delighted that the scheme enables us to support such an important service in Wales.”
The Wales Air Ambulance service is a consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatment to patients and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered through a unique partnership between the third sector and public sector.
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.
Debra Sima, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Manager for the area, was invited to meet and thank the staff at their ‘Light A Candle For A Loved One’ Remembrance Service.
She said: “It was lovely to meet the staff during the remembrance service. I’d like to say a huge thank you to the staff at Denbighshire Memorial Park, who voted for the Wales Air Ambulance to receive this kind donation from ICCM Recycling of Metals Scheme. We are deeply grateful for this thoughtful donation.
“There’s something very moving about knowing that, from a time of remembrance and loss, something positive can come that helps others.
“The Wales Air Ambulance relies on public donations to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Donations like this £5,000, will help us to continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.
“Thank you to everyone at Denbighshire Memorial Park for voting for the Wales Air Ambulance, we really appreciate your support.”
