Wales Air Ambulance has teamed up with the UK’s fastest growing and fifth largest supermarket, Aldi, to help fill the shelves of the charity’s shops across Wales.

 

The supermarket chain recently donated stock from their famous Specialbuys, worth in excess of £20,000, which has been distributed across the air ambulance charity’s 17 shops.

 

Talking about the donation of stock, Wales Air Ambulance Warehouse and Transport Manager, Rhys Richards said: “We are incredibly grateful to Aldi for the support they have shown us. The stock donated has ranged from bedding to tools and outdoor equipment. The variety of items has enabled us to offer a greater choice to our customers, which has proved very popular.

 

“With over 8,000 items donated to us, we would not have been able to benefit from them without the help of transport company Trailermech. They kindly stepped in to help us transport the stock to our Swansea warehouse. Without the help of David Baker and the team at Trailermech, none of this would have been possible, we owe them a great deal of gratitude.”

 

Annually, Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £6.5 million to keep the four helicopters flying. With the charity attending on average 2,500 missions each year, every donation supports the lifesaving service.

 

Dan Oakenfull, Regional Managing Director for Aldi UK, said: “It was a pleasure to donate some of our Specialbuys to Wales Air Ambulance, who have been able to distribute it across Wales and raise money to reach their yearly target.

 

“The team at Wales Air Ambulance do a fantastic job, and we’re really pleased we’ve been able to support them with the range of stock we have donated”.

 

Wales Air Ambulance Head of Retail and Trading, Andrew Lawton said: “This really is a unique partnership between us and one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains. To be able to rely on Aldi’s support really is special for us as an air ambulance charity. With each mission costing on average £1,500, the stock donated to us has already helped fund our lifesaving work. We can’t thank them enough for supporting our cause.”

 

Wales Air Ambulance has 17 shops located across Wales, including the newest Children’s Wales Air Ambulance store located in the heart of the Welsh capital. Each one of the shops is supported by a team of dedicated volunteers who partake in filling the shelves, assisting with customer enquiries and helping to raise vital funds. The charity’s shops are a key source of income, which contributes significantly to reaching the yearly target of £6.5 million.