Marston’s aims to raise £50,000 for charity as it marks 25th anniversary year
A MERTHYR TYDFIL landlady has helped rally nineteen pubs across South East Wales in a major fundraising drive to support the Wales Air Ambulance.
Kimberley Roberts, manager of the King Brychan pub in Merthyr, is leading the campaign on behalf of Marston’s, which has pledged to raise £50,000 for the lifesaving service as the charity marks its 25th anniversary.
Kimberley, who is Marston’s Wales Air Ambulance Lead for the South East Wales region, said staff were eager to get involved once they understood the scale of the service’s work.
“The service does such an incredible job every day across Wales, so it is a real honour to be able to help support the work it does,” she said.
“When I first started talking with my team about what we could do to help raise funds, many of us did not realise the intricacies of its role.
“It is really the emergency department attending the patient, wherever they are in Wales.”
Kimberley said staff were amazed to learn the Wales Air Ambulance can deliver hospital-level treatment at the roadside.
“We were really surprised when we learnt how they could perform surgery and give blood transfusions at the roadside. It has certainly inspired everyone,” she added.
She also admitted she was shocked by the cost of running the service.
“I was shocked when I learnt how much it costs to run the service and that it is funded by the people of Wales.”
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led and delivers critical care teams to emergencies across the country, providing advanced treatments before transporting patients to the most appropriate hospital.
The charity relies entirely on public donations to raise the £13 million needed each year to keep its helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) provides NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work onboard the charity’s aircraft and vehicles, delivering anaesthesia, blood transfusions and even minor surgical procedures at the scene.
With 121 pubs in South Wales, Marston’s hopes its Wales-wide fundraising will help cover the cost of around 15 lifesaving missions, while encouraging pub partners and customers to contribute.
Kimberley said: “We hold regular online meetings to keep across what our teams are doing across the four regions.
“It is incredible how everyone is pitching in; we are a competitive bunch and want to make sure we hit our £50,000 target.”
The team at the King Brychan has already completed a hike up Pen y Fan, raising £226, and is now planning its annual Family Fun Day this summer in aid of the charity.
“We are a community pub, very family friendly and hold lots of events for children,” Kimberley said.
“Our beer garden event this summer will once again invite local businesses to come and sell their goods.
“People produce their own candles, make books, there are sweet stalls, ice cream vans and bouncy castles – the whole community comes out.”
Customers can also donate directly in Marston’s pubs across Wales through bucket collections at the bar or via till donation buttons.
“We have a bucket collection on the bar,” Kimberley added.
“One man I served told me how he would not be here if it were not for the Wales Air Ambulance and said he would be supporting our fundraising events.”
Nina Rice, Wales Air Ambulance Head of Fundraising – High Value Partnerships, thanked Marston’s for backing the service.
“We are so grateful to Marstons for choosing us as their Charity partner in Wales as part of the celebrations to mark our 25th anniversary,” she said.
“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate with Kimberley, the team at King Brychan and all the pubs in the South East Wales region.
“We rely on partnerships like this to enable us to continue to be there for the people of Wales, whenever and wherever they need us.
“Every pound raised makes a lifesaving difference. Diolch yn fawr!”
