ASCONA, the Pembrokeshire-based UK wide forecourt operator, says it is delighted to announce that the Wales Air Ambulance will be its charity partner for the 2023/24 financial year.

To celebrate this new partnership, Ascona says it has made an initial donation of £10,000.

Over the next 12 months, 25p donations will be available to be paid via card machines across all of their sites in Wales and Ascona has committed to match each donation up to total value of £50,000. In addition, the Wales Air Ambulance will share in the proceeds of Nisa Retail’s ‘Making a Difference Locally’ fund, which is expected to amount to a further £10,000 in contributions from purchases made at Ascona sites in Wales. Ascona anticipates raising over £100,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance by the end of the 2023/24 financial year, through all of the proposed fundraising activities.

The partnership will help to support the Wales Air Ambulance in their mission to deliver lifesaving medical care to people across Wales, whenever and wherever they need it. The service relies entirely on charitable donations to raise the necessary £8 million in funds to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the roads across Wales.

Darren Briggs, Chief Executive of Ascona Group told Herald.Wales: “Since we started Ascona back in 2011, supporting our local communities has been central to our culture so we are proud to support the Wales Air Ambulance Charity in their vital work as they continue to deliver lifesaving medical care to people across Wales.

“Over the years, we have raised and donated over £200,000 for many different charities that help Welsh communities and their people and with the Wales Air Ambulance as our charity partner for the next 12 months, we are truly excited to make a difference to such an iconic charity.”

Siany Martin, Corporate Fundraiser at the Wales Air Ambulance, added: “We are delighted that Ascona has selected us as their charity of the year. Despite the vital work our people carry out on a daily basis, we receive no direct funding so we truly rely on the support from the people of Wales to make sure we can continue to serve them. Together with the rest of the team, I’d like to thank Darren and everyone at Ascona for their most generous donation and continued support.”

IF YOU’RE passionate about Pembrokeshire’s great outdoors and love to tackle tough physical tests, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust has a fundraising opportunity that will help you tick both boxes.

The Trust is offering a limited number of free entries for IRONMAN Wales 2023, which will see thousands of people take on the 2.4-mile swim, 112 miles of cycling and a marathon on foot along some of South Pembrokeshire’s most challenging routes this September.

Pembrokeshire Coast Trust Chair, Elsa Davies LVO said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide people with the opportunity to enter this popular event, which has become a fixture in the Pembrokeshire sporting calendar.

“With IRONMAN Wales featuring high levels of local participation, it would be a great opportunity for Pembrokeshire residents past and present to take part in the event and support a cause that will protect our National Park and make sure more people can enjoy its outdoors in the future.”

Sandra Jones, who has already signed up, said: “I want to raise funds to protect the National Park for future generations and ensure it is accessible to all.

“I’ve always enjoyed running but this is really pushing me outside of my comfort zone. This is the year of challenge for me, a triathlon every month leading up to Swansea IRONMAN 70.3 and then facing the ultimate – IRONMAN Wales.”

Those who are interested in taking up the challenge must commit to raise a minimum of £500, and the Trust would need to receive the pledge by 26 June 2023.

To find out more about IRONMAN Wales visit https://www.ironman.com/im-wales.

To donate to Sandra’s fundraising total visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sandra-jones50

If you would like to take up the free entry offer, expressions of interest should be sent to support@pembrokeshirecoasttrust.wales.

DURING the year of 2022, Derllys Court Golf Club raised vital funds for Pembrokeshire based Hospice at Home Charity. The 18 hole, parkland Golf course based in Llysonnen Road, Carmarthen was established in 1992 and runs various events throughout the year, where they have held raffles, auctions and collections to raise funds for Paul Sartori Foundation.

On Monday 12th February, the Golf Club held there Annual General Meeting. At the beginning of the meeting Sandra Dade, Charity Manager of the Paul Sartori Foundation, met the Captain of the Club, Mr Teifryn Bowen, to receive a cheque for £5000.

Teifryn said “The funds raised were from Golf event raffles, auctions and collections throughout the year. They were raised for the Hospice at Home Services, because the charity had previously helped friends of the club.”

Sandra Dade, Charity Manager said “On the evening I explained how vital the funds are to sustaining the services for people wishing to die in the comfort of their own homes, as well as support for the families left behind. The team at Paul Sartori Foundation are overwhelmed to receive such a generous donation.”

Paul Sartori Hospice at Home provides a range of services to Pembrokeshire people living in the final stages of a life-limiting illness, including home nursing care, equipment loan, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, under 18’s anticipatory grief and bereavement support, physiotherapy, advance care planning and training.

The services provided by the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home enable people in the later stages of any life-limiting illness to be cared for and to die at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear, if that is their wish.

All of the services are free of charge and are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to the generosity of the Pembrokeshire Community.

Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori.org, or by phoning 01437 763223.

Photo at top: Mr Teifryn Bowen, Derllys Court Golf Club Captain presenting the cheque to Sandra Dade, Charity Manager at Paul Sartori Foundation