Published: 24 April 202

Fellow volunteers for a lifesaving charity held a successful ‘Coffee and Cake’ fundraising event in memory of a dedicated volunteer and friend.

Following the sad news that Anita Harrhy had passed away in December, her Wales Air Ambulance friends wanted to celebrate Anita’s life and dedication to the charity. 

The fundraiser, which was recently held at Paul Lewis Community Centre in St Athans, included cakes, raffles, a tombola and the sale of hand knitted items, many of which were made by Wales Air Ambulance volunteers, friends and family of Anita and Carol Hamilton.

The Coffee and Cake fundraiser in memory of Anita raised an incredible £1,000 for the all-Wales Charity.

Anita, who had been a volunteer for the Charity since 2017, was much respected by the Wales Air Ambulance staff and attended many events with her close friends Carol and Howard Hamilton, who are also volunteers.

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. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to greatly improve survival and early recovery. 

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.  

Wales Air Ambulance Volunteer Development Manager, Sandra Hembery said: “Anita's passing has saddened all who were fortunate enough to meet her. Her unwavering commitment to the Wales Air Ambulance since 2017 touched the lives of many. She will be fondly remembered for her kindness, her laughter and her selfless dedication to our cause. Our thoughts are with all her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

“It was lovely to hear that her fellow volunteers wanted to raise funds for the charity in Anita’s memory and they raised a fantastic amount."

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £11.2 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.