Charity

Pembrokeshire woman runs London Marathon for charities close to her heart

Published

2 weeks ago

May 5, 2024

A PEMBROKESHIRE woman has raised over £13,000 for good causes after challenging herself to complete the London Marathon.

Terrie Savage put on her running shoes to take on the 26.2-mile London Marathon to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance and Withybush Chemotherapy Day Unit. Terrie completed the marathon in a fantastic 3 hours and 50 minutes.

Terrie who previously challenged herself to a couple of half marathons, ramped up her training and set herself the challenge to double her distance. She now seems to have the running bug and has already put her name in the ballot for a place in next year’s race.

Reflecting on her huge achievement, Terrie, 27, said: “I started running last October when I signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon and I have never looked back. I was running 30-40 miles per week in January to February and then I decreased the miles in March. It was really tough to get up at 6am, before work to fit these runs in, but I really wouldn’t have had it any other way.

“I absolutely loved the London Marathon, every single mile I smiled and had the best time – when I say I loved it, I really did! Speaking to the other runners really inspired me to keep going and sign up for more marathons!”

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 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.

Terrie, who also organised a tractor run to help with her fundraising, had a personal reason for supporting the all-Wales charity. The money raised for both causes will be split equally.

She added: “ My grandfather had a heart attack in 2021 and the Wales Air Ambulance came out to Little Haven. Unfortunately, he had passed away, but the team worked on him for a good few hours. I was really grateful for the support and care that they gave my grandad and our family.”

“I am currently on £6,500 to give to the Charity and I cannot believe the grand total, it really goes to show how worthy this cause really is. I’ve had people messaging me and talking about their experience with the Wales Air Ambulance and their inspiring stories around this wonderful charity. The life changing care these individuals deliver daily is unbelievable.”

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

Wales Air Ambulance’s Supporter Engagement Manager, Hannah Bartlett, said: “Wow, what an achievement, a massive congratulations to Terrie for not only completing a massive physical challenge but for also raising such a huge amount of money!

“We are so grateful to Terrie for choosing to support our charity. It is clear that our service is close to her heart, and it is always heart-warming for us to hear of people, like Terrie, who know someone who needed our lifesaving service, and are then inspired to fundraiser. Congratulations Terrie and thank you for supporting us. Your incredible efforts will help other people who need our service in the future.”

There’s still time to show your support to Terrie by donating to her Wales Air Ambulance JustGiving page

Pembrokeshire woman runs London Marathon in aid of Charity close to her heart

A Pembrokeshire woman has raised over £13,000 for good causes after challenging herself to complete the London Marathon.

Terrie, who also organised a tractor run to help with her fundraising, had a personal reason for supporting the all-Wales charity. The money raised for both causes will be split equally.

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

There’s still time to show your support to Terrie by donating to her Wales Air Ambulance JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/page/terrie-savage-1688759900496

Charity

Charitable donations fund ambulatory heart monitors for Withybush Hospital

Published

5 days ago

May 13, 2024

Richard Lewis

THANKS to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities – the official charity of Hywel Dda Health Board – has funded 10 ambulatory heart monitors worth over £13,000 for Withybush Hospital’s Cardio-Respiratory Department.

The monitors are compact devices which are used to assess a patient’s heart rate and rhythm for a sustained amount of time.

The state-of-the-art monitors will help the Cardio-Respiratory Department provide the best possible service, with accurate, efficient and timely arrhythmia recognition provided on site or at home.

Rhys Bowen, Advanced Cardiac Physiologist, said: “We are so grateful that charitable donations from the local community have enabled us to buy the new monitors.

“The monitors are more adaptable to each patient’s presenting symptoms which will enhance the quality of the data gathered.

“They are more patient-friendly and easier to wear for the duration of the test, so there will be less need for repeat monitoring. They will also support quicker in-patient discharge due to an increase in the number of available monitors and the fact they can be worn by the patient at home and provide remote monitoring.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, visit here.

Charity

St Davids RNLI teams up with Solva Rowing for joint exercise

Published

6 days ago

May 12, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE RNLI St Davids lifeboat crew joined forces with Solva Rowing and Watersports Club for a unique joint training exercise on Saturday, May 11, 2024. The session focused on practising medical evacuation and tow techniques using a Celtic longboat, providing an opportunity for both lifeboat and rowing crews to enhance their rescue skills.

The training aimed to prepare volunteers for a variety of maritime emergency scenarios, ensuring that they are well-equipped to handle situations that may arise at sea. The use of the traditional Celtic longboat added an extra layer of challenge and realism to the exercise, simulating conditions that could occur during actual rescue operations.

The collaboration between the two groups was not only a chance for skill enhancement but also a way to strengthen community ties and mutual understanding among the local sea-going organisations. The exercise was documented in photographs by Lyn Jenkins and Cathy Morton, capturing the intense yet constructive nature of the training.

This proactive approach by both the RNLI and Solva Rowing and Watersports Club underscores the commitment of local maritime groups to safety and preparedness, ultimately aiming to ensure that their volunteers are ready and able to save lives at sea effectively.

Charity

Angle RNLI responds to four emergencies in two days

Published

6 days ago

May 12, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE Angle RNLI lifeboat crew demonstrated remarkable dedication and skill in managing four separate emergency callouts over the span of just two days. The series of incidents began at midnight on Friday, 10th of May, when the all-weather lifeboat was launched to investigate reports of red flares over Pennar, Pembroke. Despite an extensive search of the area stretching from the 5A buoy east of Valero to Llanreath and into Pennar Gut, no evidence of distress was discovered and the team was stood down at approximately 1:45am.

The second incident occurred later the same day at 4:58pm, following a mayday call from a vessel between South Hook and Angle. The vessel’s skipper reported an unconscious crew member who had collapsed while fishing. The lifeboat reached the distressed vessel within minutes, where crew members provided immediate medical assistance. The casualty, now conscious and stable, was transported to the Port Authority Jetty, where further medical support awaited.

The crew’s third emergency call of the day came at 7:19pm, prompted by a 999 call reporting four individuals being swept out to sea on two surfboards at Freshwater West Beach. Fortunately, all four were safely out of the water by the time the lifeboat arrived, but the crew conducted a precautionary search to ensure no further individuals were at risk.

On Saturday, 11th of May, at 1:03pm, the crew was again called into action after a report of a person unable to reboard their boat south of Watwick Beach. The individual, who had been recovered from the water by a passing vessel, was safely transferred to the lifeboat. It was found that the casualty’s mirror dinghy had capsized. The lifeboat ferried the individual to the Port Authority Jetty for medical care.

Each of these operations underscores the critical role played by the RNLI and its volunteers in ensuring maritime safety and rapid response to emergencies along the coast.