CRICKHOWELL High School has nominated the lifesaving service for a series of fundraising events following the death of a staff-member’s son.
Headteacher Claire Jones said: “The Charity is exceptional in the work it does. It helps so many people throughout Wales each year.
“We have a staff member whose son died in tragic circumstances within the last year and a half.
“Our school community is very close, and we wanted to give back to the service, as a way of saying thank you for the work it does daily.”
Will Bush was a much-loved son, brother and boyfriend who had just started a new job when he died tragically on Christmas Eve 2023.
Claire added: “In partnership with our student counsel, we wanted to create a fitting tribute to Will and a fundraising platform for the Wales Air Ambulance.
“We all felt that it was important to do some education around the role of the Charity as well as fundraising.
“That combination is key to helping people understand the role of the Charity, the work of the lifesaving service and why it is important to donate.”
The 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.
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.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Staff, pupils, and parents have helped raise over £1,000 so far for the Charity through a variety of events, but they hope to double that figure with an annual memorial rugby match.
Claire said: “We transformed the reception area of our school for a staff cyclothon. We lined up static bikes so that our members could hop on and get involved during allocated slots.
“So, if a science teacher had their lab coat on, they could switch into their cycling kit and do a few miles within their time.
“There was healthy competition between everyone! There was a lovely feeling, a sense of togetherness, when we all really needed it most. It helped boost morale during an exceedingly difficult time.”
Non-school uninform days have also helped raise funds for the lifesaving service.
Claire said: “In the last couple of weeks we have had pupils and staff wearing no school uniform which is obviously a treat for the pupils.
“We also ran some assemblies focused on the air ambulance, explaining how it brings hospital-standard critical care treatments to the patient, wherever they might be.”
She added: “We asked pupils and families to donate as part of the reward to wear normal clothes and non-uniform.
“We were so happy by the Friday we were on about £600, by the Monday we were up over the £800 marker.
“We also publicised what we were doing on our school social media feeds to highlight the work of the cause, why it is important to support and how much we raised.
“That ripple effect really helps raise awareness too.”
The school hopes an annual memorial match will help them raise even more money for the air ambulance in the coming years.
Claire said: “The rugby match will be between us and another school within Powys.
“We want to remember Will, a young man who had a bright future ahead of him. This is a fitting way for his legacy to live on, by helping others in their time of need.”
She continued: “We will be looking to publicise the event everywhere. Our vision is if that goes well this summer, we will continue to grow it each year and hopefully raise more money.”
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.
Kate Thomas, Regional Fundraising Manager for Powys said: “Our thoughts are with Will’s family and friends at this difficult time.
“It is deeply moving for our team to learn that a fundraising memorial in this young man’s memory is being created and will raise money for our lifesaving service.
“We are hugely grateful to the staff, pupils, parents, and whole community for thinking of us as a beneficiary and for raising over £1,000 to date.
“Without the generosity of fundraisers like Crickhowell High School we would not be able to do what we do, events like this make such a big difference.”
