Charity
Sanna wins Wales Air Ambulance place for the world’s toughest mountain race

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has been picked to represent the Wales Air Ambulance at one of the world’s toughest mountain races.
Sanna Duthie, 35, of Milford Haven, beat off stiff competition to win the Montane Dragon’s Back Race charity place, which covers 236 miles of Wales’ uniquely wild, trackless, and remote mountainous terrain.
The event will see competitors run the equivalent of 1.5 marathons every day in six days, starting from Conwy Castle and finishing at Cardiff Castle from Monday 4 September to Saturday 9 September 2023.
Ultra-runner Sanna impressed the judging panel with her passion and dedication and is the first female athlete to win a Wales Air Ambulance charity place for the gruelling race.
The panel consisted of Wales Air Ambulance’s Events and Partnership Fundraiser, Tracey Ann Breese, Campaigns Manager Katie Macro and last year’s charity-place winner, Richard Gardiner.
Sanna, who works in office administration, said it had been her ambition to enter the Montane Dragon’s Back Race, but the £1,599 entry fee had financially held her back.
She said: “As a proud Welsh runner, the race has been on my radar for many years, I know several people who have taken part which has only fuelled my desire to do it. I work in office administration full time and the entry fee was just too much for me sadly.
“To spend a week running on the mountains in Wales is the best holiday I can imagine, the thought of being out on the mountains for days sounds so freeing. To be given the chance to take part in the Dragon’s Back Race is a dream come true.
“To be the first female to win the charity place is amazing. We need more female ultra-runners. Women are so strong mentally, and this challenge will require me to dig deep. It’s an honour to be chosen and it has given me a big boost mentally, as well as the drive to train even harder.”
Sanna has been Ultra-running since 2015 and has won a plethora of races. These include the Gower Ultra, GB Ultra Beacon, The North Canum, Dirty Dozen Back Yard Ultra and the Preseli Ultra-beast 2022 which she won and set a new female record.
The athlete has committed to raising a minimum of £2,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance and hopes to promote her journey on social media and through a podcast.
Sanna is no stranger to fundraising for the Charity having raised nearly £5,000 in 2021 by running the entire Pembrokeshire Coast Path, an incredible 186 miles, all in one go. Not only did Sanna complete the challenge, but she also achieved the fastest known time of 51 hours and 30 minutes – with no sleep and the only stops being to refuel.
She said: “We were just coming out of lockdown and I managed to fulfil my dream of running the entire 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path. It was probably the best weekend of my life.
“As a result of that I appeared on radio shows in Wales and was interviewed on lots of running podcasts and I did some talks at the local schools. I even got asked to join the judging panel for last year’s Wales Air Ambulance Dragon’s Back Race.
“I asked for sponsorship and managed to raise just under £5,000 for Welsh Air Ambulance which is a cause I feel very strongly about. The service is very active in our community. Pembrokeshire is quite rural and road links are not great. It is a charity that people in our county care about and want to support.”
Sanna said to complete the Montane Dragon’s Back Race would be a life goal and that she already has a training plan in place for the race.

She said: “It gives me butterflies just thinking of it. It really will be a dream come true and to be able to do it and raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance really makes it extra special.
“I would say that I am an emotional person, this can often be seen as a bad quality, but I think it makes me a good ultra-runner. I help and support people and it also means that when I set a goal, I give it my all. I really hope I won’t let you down.”
The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £8 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
It offers advanced critical care across Wales which is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership between the Wales Air Ambulance Charity and the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS Cymru).
As a result, the service is consultant-led and is known as a ‘flying emergency department’, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient at the scene of an incident. This includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
Tracey Ann Breese, Wales Air Ambulance’s Events and Partnership Fundraiser, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to offer Sanna a place at this year’s Montane Dragon’s Back Race. It was clear from her application that she is totally committed to running and being able to complete the race, both as a personal goal and to fundraise for Wales Air Ambulance.
“We received a number of strong entries and we would like to thank everyone for sending their videos to us. I am looking forward to seeing and being able to support Sanna’s journey and am truly grateful that she has chosen to support our Charity for the second time.”
To support Sanna visit her Just Giving page, https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sanna-duthie3

Charity
Paul Sartori receives further support from The James Tudor Foundation

PAUL SARTORI HOSPIC AT HOME, a Pembrokeshire-based charity, has secured a £10,000 grant from The James Tudor Foundation to support its end-of-life care services. The funding will contribute to the charity’s Registered Nursing Team, which provides essential palliative care across the county.
The annual cost of delivering this service exceeds £200,000.
Paul Sartori takes a holistic approach to end-of-life care, offering home nursing, complementary therapies, bereavement support, physiotherapy, future care planning, and training. Its team delivers thousands of hours of respite care each year, ensuring patients receive support in the comfort of their homes.
The charity’s Registered Nurses play a vital role in bridging gaps in local palliative care. Their flexible and responsive approach ensures that patients’ wishes to remain at home are honoured. They conduct assessments, facilitate referrals, collaborate with healthcare providers, and offer expert advice. The nurses also assist with symptom management, medication administration, and operate the charity’s 24/7 on-call service, providing immediate assistance in emergencies. Additionally, they coordinate fast-track personal care packages to help patients return home from hospital with adequate support.
“The presence of a Paul Sartori Registered Nurse at home brings immense reassurance to families during a challenging time,” said Laura Hugman, Clinical Team Manager at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home. “Our nurses uphold the highest standards of compassionate care, prioritising dignity and quality of life. Having a Registered Nurse available at night means that patients and families can receive prompt assistance without delays.”
Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer at Paul Sartori, expressed gratitude for the continued support: “We are incredibly thankful to The James Tudor Foundation for their generosity. Their funding helps us maintain our nursing service, which is a lifeline for many families facing end-of-life care challenges. Our nurses make a significant impact, alleviating stress and providing much-needed comfort.”
The James Tudor Foundation focuses on the relief of human sickness, supporting organisations that provide direct care to individuals affected by physical or mental health issues. Their commitment to improving end-of-life support aligns with Paul Sartori Hospice at Home’s mission to provide compassionate and dignified care in Pembrokeshire’s rural communities.
“The Foundation is pleased to support Paul Sartori Hospice at Home once again in delivering this crucial service,” said a spokesperson for The James Tudor Foundation. “Ensuring individuals receive practical and emotional support at the end of life is vital, and we are impressed by the charity’s unwavering dedication. We look forward to hearing more about the impact of their work.”
Business
Explore ‘Great Ponds in Art: From Dürer to Monet’ at Twr y Felin Hotel

TWR Y FELIN Hotel is pleased to announce an enlightening art talk titled “Great Ponds in Art: From Dürer to Monet,” presented by esteemed art historian and Ashmolean Museum lecturer, Juliet Heslewood. This event will take place on Wednesday, March 19, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, in support of the Nature Recovery Action Plan for The Havens, with 100% of profits donated to the cause.
Attendees will embark on a visual journey through art history, exploring how artists from Albrecht Dürer to Claude Monet have depicted ponds in their work. Juliet Heslewood will provide insights into the artists’ observations and techniques, offering a fresh perspective on Monet’s iconic water lily paintings.

Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, 19th March, 2025
- Time: 6.30 pm – 7.30 pm
- Location: Twr y Felin Hotel, Ffordd Caerfai, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, SA62 6QT
- Price: £8 per person (100% of profits go to the Nature Recovery Action Plan for The Havens)

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available through the Eventbrite website (eventbrite.co.uk)
For more information about this event and other offerings from Twr y Felin Hotel, please visit the hotel’s official website.

Twr y Felin Hotel is Wales’ first contemporary art hotel, offering luxurious accommodation and fine dining in St Davids, Pembrokeshire. Renowned for its outstanding service and stunning coastal location, the hotel is a multi-award-winning destination for travellers seeking tranquillity and sophistication.
Charity
Ffynnon Community Resilience CIC creates green spaces with exciting new garden package

FFYNNON Community Resilience CIC are going green in 2025 thanks to new garden from Keep Wales Tidy.
Ffynnon Community Resilience CIC will be creating a new orchard garden in Pembrokeshire to benefit nature and the local community. Environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy will be installing the garden and providing all the plants, tools and materials for free through its Local Places for Nature scheme.
Jo Denham from Ffynnon Community Resilience CIC said: “Our group of community allotmenteers have been so excited to receive the garden package from Keep Wales Tidy.
“We chose to put in a communally accessible fruit cage with an array of different bushes, and it’s been really fun installing it and choosing what to put in there.”

Keep Wales Tidy’s Local Places for Nature scheme offers communities free garden packages that range from small gardening projects to orchards and large-scale makeovers. 1,300 gardens have been created and restored across Wales since it was launched in 2020. Groups and organisations of all shapes and sizes have benefited, including emergency services, youth groups, sports clubs, animal homes and disability charities.
Chief Executive for Keep Wales Tidy Owen Derbyshire said: “Creating thriving green spaces not only benefits the health and wellbeing of individuals but strengthens our communities.
“We are delighted that groups, like Ffynnon Community Resilience CIC can make a real difference through the Local Places for Nature scheme, and we are grateful to Welsh Government for their ongoing support.
“I can’t wait to see the orchard garden take shape over the coming weeks and months.”
Keep Wales Tidy’s initiative is part of the wider Welsh Government ‘Local Places for Nature’ programme committed to creating, restoring and enhancing nature ‘on your doorstep’.
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