Newcastle Emlyn youngster sells out 176 cakes in just 20 minutes for Wales Air Ambulance
A KIND-HEARTED schoolgirl from Newcastle Emlyn has raised £300 for the Wales Air Ambulance — the very service that helped save her life as a baby.
Ten-year-old Rhian Ferraro organised a cake sale as part of her Brownies Charity Badge, selling an impressive 176 homemade cakes and cheesecakes in just 20 minutes.
When Rhian was just ten weeks old, she stopped breathing at home and was rushed to her local GP surgery. The Wales Air Ambulance was quickly dispatched and flew the critically ill baby to hospital in Cardiff.
Doctors discovered Rhian had a large hole in her heart. She was monitored in hospital for two nights before being allowed home.
Her mum, Vicki, said: “Rhian was sent home with an open invitation to go to the children’s ward at Glangwili Hospital if needed. It was needed pretty much every three weeks for 18 months thereafter for pneumonia and chest infections. Rhian is great now, although she still has heart scans every two years, but seems to be ok.”
Rhian, who has two younger sisters, Ffion and Nia, set up her cake stall at Ysgol Y Ddwylan, where classmates and families quickly snapped up the sweet treats.
A member of Teifi District Newcastle Emlyn Brownies, Rhian chose to support the air ambulance as part of her charity badge challenge.
Reflecting on the day, her proud mum said: “I was very impressed that we managed to raise £300 in just 20 minutes.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service, delivering hospital-standard treatments at the scene of an incident and, where required, transferring patients directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
The service operates through a unique partnership with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), which provides highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners to work onboard the charity’s helicopters and rapid response vehicles.
As a pan-Wales service, crews travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care wherever it is needed.
Mike May, Regional Fundraising Manager, said: “A huge thank you to Rhian for supporting our charity. Rhian and her family know firsthand how important our service is to the people of Wales. It is heartwarming to hear that ten years on from needing the service, Rhian has raised funds for us.
“She should be extremely proud of herself, and she definitely deserves her new Brownies charity badge.
“The charity needs to raise £13 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers like Rhian’s help the Wales Air Ambulance continue to meet that yearly target.
“Thank you, Rhian, for raising an incredible £300. Your fundraising will help us save more lives across the country.”
