The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the Wales Air Ambulance as the Llanelli-headquartered charity marked its 25th anniversary — at a gala dinner that raised £180,000.
The charity’s Royal Patron joined volunteers, patients, crew members and supporters at the event at the Celtic Manor in Newport on Friday 26 June, hosted by broadcaster Jason Mohammed.
He said: “For 25 years, Wales Air Ambulance has provided a vital service to people and communities across Wales. In life-threatening moments, its crews have brought advanced critical care directly to those in greatest need, offering help and hope.”
The Prince also praised the charity’s international reputation and its “commitment to evidence-based decision-making that helps ensure the best possible care for the people of Wales”.
The service has come a long way in a quarter of a century — from a single aircraft flying limited hours in 2001 to a 24/7 national operation with four helicopters and a fleet of rapid response vehicles.
Its crews have flown more than 57,000 missions, taking hospital-standard care to roadsides, homes, mountainsides and coastlines.
The charity is run from its Tŷ Elusen headquarters in Dafen, Llanelli — where the Prince visited in 2023 when he took on the patronage, his first Welsh one since becoming Prince of Wales.
Guests at the gala heard from former patient Alan Owen, who suffered a cardiac arrest playing walking football in April 2022 and was without a heartbeat for eight minutes before being revived — with the charity’s clinicians stabilising him at the scene.
“There is no doubt in my mind that without the Wales Air Ambulance, I would not be standing here today,” he said.
He also spoke of families as “co-survivors” whose trauma is “different, but no less real” — adding: “I have been given more time. Time with my family. Time that I would not have had without this charity.”
Chief executive Dr Sue Barnes told guests: “When the service launched in 2001, it was one aircraft. Today, it is a truly national service, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is a transformation that has helped save countless lives and touched not just patients but their families.”
She said the charity’s growth was all the more remarkable for being “powered by a nation of just over three million people. A small country, with a huge heart” — adding: “We are your air ambulance, and we exist because of you.”
The evening’s £180,000 total included more than £85,000 in sponsorship from corporate supporters, with a live auction among the fundraising on the night. The event was sponsored by Ascona Group, Gama Aviation, Bibado and Redkite Solicitors.
The charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million it needs each year to keep its helicopters flying — with local supporters doing their bit just weeks ago, when rugby legend James Hook led medics along the Gower coast path for the annual Walk Wales challenge.
And there was a neat symmetry to the anniversary: the charity’s very first mission, in 2001, was to a rugby field in Glynneath — 57,000 call-outs before the Prince raised a toast to the next 25 years.
