Successful Christmas raffle boosts long-running fundraising effort
A LEADING building materials firm has raised thousands of pounds for a vital Welsh emergency service following a successful staff fundraiser.
Heidelberg Materials UK, based in Padeswood near Mold, has donated £3,000 to the Wales Air Ambulance after hosting a well-supported Christmas raffle.
The latest donation brings the company’s total fundraising for the charity to an impressive £15,600 since 2014, highlighting a long-standing commitment from staff and management alike.
Employees played a key role in the effort, purchasing raffle tickets and supporting the initiative, while additional funds were secured through match funding from the company’s head office—boosting the total by a further £2,000.
The raffle was organised by employee Dereth Holland, with a wide range of prizes donated for the draw. These included a 43-inch television, a £100 Amazon voucher, theatre tickets, a Ninja dual air fryer, hampers, a coffee machine and outdoor clothing.
Speaking after the event, Ms Holland praised the collective effort and the importance of the cause.
“The £15,600 we’ve raised is fantastic, especially for such a worthwhile cause,” she said. “It is a vital service that I believe we cannot do without. It has helped so many people and saved lives.”
She added that the charity deserves greater government backing to support the critical role it plays in communities across Wales.
The Wales Air Ambulance provides consultant-led care, delivering hospital-standard treatment directly to patients at the scene of an emergency. Where necessary, patients are transferred straight to the most appropriate hospital for their condition.
The service operates through a partnership between the third sector and public services, relying heavily on public donations to raise the £13 million needed annually to keep its helicopters flying and rapid response vehicles operational.
Highly trained NHS consultants and critical care practitioners, provided by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), deliver advanced treatments on board, including anaesthesia, blood transfusions and minor surgical procedures.
As a pan-Wales service, its crews travel the length and breadth of the country to provide lifesaving care wherever it is needed.
Debra Sima, Regional Fundraising Manager for North East Wales, thanked the company for its continued support.
“We are so grateful to everyone at Heidelberg Materials UK for continuing to support our lifesaving service,” she said. “The raffle had wonderful prizes and was a huge success.
“We rely on our supporters to help keep our helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road. Fundraisers like this ensure we can be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.”
