THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE charity is urging the public to continue their support after a sharp rise in aviation fuel prices linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Even if the conflict were to end in the coming days, the Charity warns it would still face additional costs of around £50,000 due to sustained increases in global fuel prices.

Every day, Wales Air Ambulance crews respond to some of the most serious medical emergencies across the country, reaching people who are critically ill or seriously injured. Missions often involve long-distance flights, with medics travelling to patients before transferring them to specialist hospitals in Wales or England for urgent treatment.

Wales Air Ambulance pilot Captain James Gardiner said: “Every time we take off, we know someone on the ground is relying on us during one of the worst moments of their life. Fuel isn’t just a cost for us – it’s what allows us to take A&E-standard care to patients wherever they are in Wales, and then take them to the most appropriate specialist centre for their needs.

“When fuel prices rise this sharply, it has a real impact. The support we receive from the public genuinely helps keep us flying, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who makes this service possible.”

Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East, the Charity has seen a significant increase in fuel costs, coinciding with a seasonal rise in air ambulance demand. Spring and summer typically bring longer daylight hours and improved flying conditions, leading to increased operational activity.

The Charity is asking supporters to consider donating – however small – to help offset these exceptional costs and ensure crews can continue to respond when they are needed most.

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, bringing hospital-standard treatments directly to patients and, where necessary, transferring them to the most appropriate hospital for their condition. The service is delivered through a unique partnership between the third sector and the NHS.

It relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required each year to keep helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work alongside the Charity’s crews. This advanced level of care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and perform minor surgical procedures at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, crews travel across the country to deliver emergency, lifesaving care wherever it is needed.

Dr Barnes said: “The war in the Middle East has created an unexpected and, we hope, temporary challenge. Rising fuel costs are a serious issue for air ambulance charities across the UK and reflect global factors beyond our control.

“Global fuel markets do not respond instantly to geopolitical change, and we anticipate that any reduction in costs following the end of the war would be gradual and spread over a prolonged period. This means the financial impact on the Charity would continue well beyond the immediate end of the conflict.

“When someone’s life is at risk, our crews must be ready to fly, no matter the distance or the time of day.

“While we carefully manage these increases, we are also asking supporters, if they are able, to help us mitigate this exceptional rise in fuel costs.

“We know that many people across Wales are facing rising costs in their own lives, and we don’t take lightly the decision to ask for help.”

To find out more or to donate, visit: https://www.walesairambulance.com/fuel-cost-appeal

TWELVE golfers are preparing to test their endurance in an extraordinary charity challenge at Rosemarket Golf Club on June 19.

The group will attempt to complete the club’s 18-hole course not once, but four times in a single day – a feat expected to take more than 17 hours. Play is set to begin at 4am, with participants walking the entire distance, as buggies are not permitted.

Organisers describe the challenge as both “brave” and “foolhardy,” with three teams of four competing throughout the day.

Teams taking part include:

Red Team: Patrick “Captain” Bellerby, Jeremy Evans, Luke Young, Alex Young

Blue Team: Damian Haworth, Paul Hayler, John Rees, Alex James

Green Team: Neil Hainsworth, Marc Edwards, Andrew “Garbo” Ramage, Chris Bourne

Alongside the physical challenge, the event will feature friendly competition between the teams, with support from club members helping to keep players fed and hydrated during the marathon effort.

The fundraiser aims to support the Paul Sartori Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing end-of-life care services across Pembrokeshire.

Founded in May 1981, the organisation was established by parishioners of Father Paul Sartori, a widely respected local priest who died of cancer at the age of 38. Inspired by his vision for hospice care in the region, the foundation continues to deliver services to the community regardless of religious affiliation, with a mission to provide sustainable and compassionate end-of-life care.

Participants are encouraging donations from the public to support the cause, with all contributions going towards maintaining and expanding vital hospice services in the county.

As the golfers prepare for what promises to be a gruelling day on the fairways, organisers hope the challenge will not only raise funds but also awareness of the essential work carried out by the foundation.

A MENTAL health nurse from Pembrokeshire has opened up about two life-changing calls to Samaritans, as she prepares to take on a 26-mile challenge across the Preseli Hills to raise funds for the charity.

Her first encounter with the Samaritans came in 2013, when she was struggling with postnatal depression. At the time, she said she desperately needed someone to talk to.

“I just needed someone to listen while I cried about how hard everything felt,” she recalled. “The response was lovely – non-judgemental, warm and caring.”

Though it was a one-off phone call, the experience stayed with her, made all the more memorable by the unexpected discovery that the volunteer she spoke to was based in her own local town.

Years passed before she reached out again. But in October 2025, during what she describes as one of the most overwhelming periods of her life, she found herself turning back to the charity.

“My whole world felt like it was crashing down,” she said. “I was exhausted, and my thoughts didn’t feel like my own anymore. I knew what I was going through was temporary, but my mind was offering permanent solutions.”

At a breaking point, she made the call.

Her plea for help was answered by a volunteer named Tony, whose calm presence proved pivotal. “He could hear the panic and fear in my voice and stayed with me while I got myself to a safe place,” she said.

The call was unexpectedly cut short when the signal dropped out as she made her way back to her car—but the impact lingered.

“That moment changed everything,” she said. “It was a turning point. It gave me the courage to open up to my friends and my employer about what I was going through.”

As a mental health professional, she admits that asking for help did not come easily.

“I’m a very private person, and working as a mental health nurse can sometimes make it harder to reach out through traditional avenues,” she explained. “But even for those of us in the profession, there are times when we need somewhere to turn.”

Now, with time and distance from that difficult period, she feels ready to share her story publicly in the hope of helping others.

To give back, she is planning a 26-mile sponsored walk across the Preseli Hills, retracing a deeply personal route. The walk will take in Carningli – a place where she once felt “on top of the world”—and Rosebush, where the pivotal phone call took place.

“Walking has become incredibly cathartic for me,” she said. “Spending time in the Preselis has helped me process so many thoughts and feelings. It’s brought a real sense of peace.”

While she acknowledges the emotional challenge of revisiting those locations, she feels stronger now.

“I have a support network and a life I’ve been able to rebuild – thanks, in part, to that one phone call.”

The Samaritans, which operates a 24-hour helpline, responds to a call for help every 10 seconds. The service is free and available year-round, offering confidential, non-judgemental support to anyone in need.

Through her fundraising effort, she hopes to raise awareness as well as vital funds – while reminding others that help is always within reach.