Charity of the Year

Charity of the Year

Each year the Wales YFC chairman designates a good cause to support during the year. For the 2011-2012 year, Dylan Jones has chosen Wales Air Ambulance.

 

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When announcing the Wales Air Ambulance as the chosen Charity of the year, Dylan stated;

"Initially it took me some time to think about a charity to support this year, but once I got thinking about the Wales Air Ambulance I had little hesitation in pledging my support to this worthy charity. No one knows when they will need the support of the Air Ambulance, and in the 10 years it has been in existence it has provided invaluable support to many individuals and families, and among them I am sure there are very many current and past members of the YFC."

 

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Wales Air Ambulance is an all Wales charity providing a vital service through emergency air cover for those who face life-threatening illness or injuries.

The aim of Wales Air Ambulance is to reach, treat and transport patients with the greatest speed possible.

Wales Air Ambulance helicopters are based in Swansea Airport, Caernarfon Airport and Welshpool Airport.

 

10 Facts about Wales Air Ambulance

  1. Wales continues to be one of the fastest growing air ambulance operations in the UK, flying more than 15,000 missions between its launch in 2001 to date.

  2. Each helicopter can be launched within 3 minutes of receiving an emergency call.

  3. The aircraft can travel at 140mph – over 2 miles per minute – and can reach anywhere in Wales (From the three airbases) within 20 minutes.

  4. A helicopter has the capacity to carry 1 pilot, 2 paramedics and 1 patient. The new EC-135 can also carry the parent of an injured child.

  5. Road traffic collisions account for 40% of Missions

  6. The charity needs to raise over £5 million per year to operate the service. The charity raises all the funds required for the day to day running of missions, with each mission on average costing £1500.

  7. Wales Air Ambulance responds to over 2000 missions every year.

  8. Wales was the last country and region in Europe to have an air ambulance service, but it has since grown to become one of the busiest air ambulance operations in the UK.

  9. As a registered charity the service is wholly dependent on public donations, and does not receive any support from the national lottery or the government.

  10. The helicopter can land next to a patient, saving valuable time in areas a land ambulance can not reach.  It is the only aircraft that can land on a road or even a back garden.

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For more information please visit the Wales Air Ambulance website by clicking here 

Visit 'Beefy's Bike Ride' page in the Events section to find out more about the Chairman's challenge to raise money for this year's Charity of the year.