Free family event at Withybush Aerodrome to raise vital funds for Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity

AT a time when charities across Wales are facing increasing financial pressure, one Pembrokeshire organisation is calling on the community to come together in support of local children and young people experiencing grief.

Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity will host its Big Bash on Saturday 6 June at Withybush Aerodrome, promising a free, family-friendly day of activities while raising essential funds for its bereavement support services.

The charity works with families across Pembrokeshire and throughout Wales during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Demand for support continues to grow, while funding streams remain uncertain — making community events such as the Big Bash more important than ever.

Organisers say the day is about more than fundraising. It is also about raising awareness of the support available locally and highlighting the real families and real stories at the heart of the charity’s work.

One mother who accessed Sandy Bear’s services said taking part in a previous event had a lasting impact on her child.

“We never thought something like a fun run would matter so much, but it did,” she said. “It was the first time we saw our child smile without forcing it. Sandy Bear helped make that possible.”

The day will begin at 11am with the Sandy Bear Fun Run, featuring accessible 1.5k and 3k routes designed to suit all abilities, including wheelchair users and families with pushchairs. For a £5 registration fee, participants can walk, jog or run the course, helping to kickstart the celebrations while directly supporting local bereavement services.

Following the fun run, the main pavilion will host a range of local stalls, food vendors, entertainment and performances, creating what organisers describe as a welcoming and inclusive party atmosphere.

With charities increasingly being asked to do more with less, Sandy Bear hopes the Big Bash will encourage residents to reconnect with their community and support organisations working quietly behind the scenes to make a life-changing difference.

Advance registration for the fun run is encouraged due to high expected turnout, though limited on-the-day registration will be available from 10.15am.

Cyclist visits nine lifeboat stations from St Davids to Pwllheli in four-day coastal endurance fundraiser

A PEMBROKESHIRE supporter has cycled more than 200 miles along the Welsh coast, visiting nine lifeboat stations and raising over £1,000 for the RNLI.

Jonathan Bradley took on the solo endurance challenge in November 2025, starting at RNLI St Davids Lifeboat Station and finishing four days later at Pwllheli. Along the way he stopped at every RNLI station on his route, including Fishguard, Cardigan, New Quay, Aberystwyth, Aberdovey, Barmouth and Criccieth.

The RNLI said Jonathan had been a long-time member of its Storm Force youth programme and had always remained a keen supporter of the charity’s lifesaving work.

The fundraising effort covered around 200 miles of coastal roads and terrain, with Jonathan completing the journey alone while carrying his own equipment.

An RNLI spokesperson praised his commitment, saying the funds raised would help support volunteer crews who provide lifesaving services around the coast of Wales and the wider UK and Ireland.

The charity relies heavily on donations and community fundraising to maintain its lifeboats, stations and rescue equipment, with volunteers responding to thousands of incidents each year.

Jonathan’s journey began in Pembrokeshire at St Davids — one of the RNLI’s busiest stations — giving the challenge a strong local connection before continuing north along Cardigan Bay to Gwynedd.

The RNLI added its thanks to everyone who supported the challenge through donations and encouragement, describing the effort as an inspiring example of community fundraising in action.

A WALES AIR AMBULANCE charity shop in Tenby will be welcoming supporters this weekend as part of a national fundraising campaign marking the service’s 25th anniversary.

The shop, located on Upper Frog Street, will host a Coffee and Cake event on Saturday (Feb 28) from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, inviting members of the public to drop in, enjoy refreshments, and make a donation towards the lifesaving charity.

The event forms part of the charity’s wider ‘Coffee and Cake’ fundraiser, which runs across March and April and encourages supporters to organise their own gatherings to raise funds.

Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise around £13 million every year to keep its helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles operating across the country.

Laura Coyne, Fundraising Operations Manager for Wales Air Ambulance, said: “It’s the charity’s 25th birthday on St David’s Day, and our shop in Tenby will mark the occasion by hosting its own Coffee and Cake event.

“Everyone is welcome and we’d be delighted if you joined us for some nice treats — you’ll be making a lifesaving difference and that really is the icing on the cake.”

Supporters are also being encouraged to host their own coffee mornings, afternoon teas or bake sales in their communities during the anniversary celebrations.

Laura added: “Many of us love a catch-up with a slice of cake, and whether you’re part of a community group, school, business or simply an individual, we would love to support you in holding your own event.

“It doesn’t matter if you bake or buy your cakes — the funds you raise will help support our lifesaving charity. It’s the perfect opportunity to get together with friends, family or colleagues while making a real difference.”

Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service that brings hospital-level treatment directly to patients at the scene of serious incidents and, when necessary, transfers them straight to the most appropriate hospital. This can save critical time and significantly improve survival and recovery outcomes.

The service operates through a partnership between the charity and the NHS Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), with highly skilled consultants and critical care practitioners working on board its aircraft and vehicles.

Its crews travel across the whole of Wales, delivering advanced treatments including anaesthesia, blood transfusions, and emergency procedures wherever they are needed.