Grab A Cup Of Tea With WAA At Welshpool Open Day!

Wales Air Ambulance is opening its doors for a special Open Day, inviting the public to come and find out more about the charity at its Welshpool airbase, on November 2. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event, at Mid Wales Airport in Welshpool, will run from 10am – 2pm, giving people a unique insight into the operation and how the charity keeps the helicopters flying. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will refreshments throughout the day and a raffle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event will also celebrate the charity’s volunteers, to thank those who donate time to the cause. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Helen Thomas, Wales Air Ambulance Community Coordinator, said: “Our Open Day will give people the chance to see our aircraft and crew, and to get an insight into what it is like to be a part of the charity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We rely on people from all walks of life coming together and kindly donating a few spare hours of their time. It is these wonderful people, with different backgrounds, experiences and skills, who play a crucial role in keeping us flying. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We are encouraging people to come and share some tea and cake with our lifesaving volunteers and crew, and learn more about the charity’s work across Wales.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The charity relies on its network of volunteers, who help in a variety of ways to generate funds for the helicopters. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £6.5 million ever year to fly the helicopters, which have completed more than 24,000 missions since the charity was launched on St David’s Day 2001. It is the largest air ambulance operation in Britain, with Mid Wales seeing a high proportion of missions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Helen said: “In Mid Wales we serve a large farming community, but the air ambulance is here for absolutely everyone: whether you’re in remote countryside, a busy town or simply at home. And as a charity, the support we receive from the people of Wales is crucial in allowing us to be on standby 365 days a year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We welcome people to come along to our Welshpool airbase and find out a little bit more about Wales Air Ambulance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Have a cuppa and a slice of cake with our crew and volunteers, and find out what it’s like to be part of WAA.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​