All-Wales Charity ‘bowled over’ by support from retired teacher

A retired teacher from Llangunnor, who captains her local bowls team, has helped raise thousands of pounds for Wales Air Ambulance.

79-year-old Sandra Thomas was appointed President of Carmarthenshire Ladies Bowling Ass

Sandra, who plays with Bro Myrddin Bowls Club said: “The team do such an incredible job helping those in awful situations.

“I’ve seen up close the care they take when at the scene. During my career, I witnessed the crew helping a pupil that had collapsed in the playground. It stayed with me.

“I have donated monthly ever since. So, when I was appointed President for a year, I wanted to do something special for the Charity.”

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.

Sandra did several events throughout the year to raise funds for the Charity. She said: “I’ve had amazing support from my own bowling club. I cannot fault them. Everyone embraced my position as President, and they respected it. I also had tremendous support from all the ladies in the Carmarthenshire Ladies Bowling Association.

“I did two lots of naming the teddies – as it happened a lady won both teddies and she didn’t want them, so she gave them back to me. I then took them to White Rose Care Home in New Tredegar where my brother is, and they used it as a fundraiser for one of their fetes. So that helped two great causes.”

She added: “We held two quizzes at Bro Myrddin Bowls Club, one in April and one in September. They raised £1,100 and were a great success.

 “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed those, and they are asking for more. There is a real possibility that will happen in the New Year. If they are for Charity, they will be for the Wales Air Ambulance.”

Sandra, who is a grandmother of four, loves to stay active. As the Ladies Club Captain, she is heavily involved with running the leagues.

She said: “Throughout the Summer we are very busy. It is an outdoor league, so we play away at Loughor, Ammanford, Cwmaman and others too– there are about 12 clubs in our group.

“They have also been incredibly supportive of my fundraising for the Charity. I hosted a President’s Day, where players from each of the clubs came to Bro Myrddin Bowls Club to play a game. I’ve got to say, they all gave very generous donations.”

Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £11.2 million every year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road, and the service attends around 4,000 patients across Wales each year.

Sandra said: “It was wonderful to be able to visit the Dafen base in December to hand over our cheque for £3,000.

“Everyone was so nice, so friendly and appreciative of what we had done. 

“It was great because the helicopter and crew members were there, so we got to chat with them about the work they do and have a tour of the aircraft.

“We were all surprised at how small inside the helicopter is – when you think about the equipment and personnel that it has to accommodate.”

Sandra was delighted that they were able to have a photograph with everyone. She said: “We have framed the picture and the certificate we were given, and they are both hanging proudly on the wall at our club house.”

Mike May, Regional Fundraiser for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire said: “We have been bowled over by the kindness of the Bro Myrddin team and local clubs within the Carmarthenshire Ladies Association.

“It’s been fantastic to have the support of Sandra during her year as President of Carmarthenshire Ladies Bowling Association.

“She has supported us over many years and like so many of our fundraisers has a personal connection with our lifesaving service.

“We are hugely grateful to all those who fundraise for us. It costs £11.2 million each year to deliver the service, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without our supporters.”