Goldwing Light Parade team commit to raising funds for Wales Air Ambulance

The Goldwing Light Parade returned to Llandudno this year, bringing motorcycle enthusiasts together and raising £3,500 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity.

The annual event, now a fixture in the town’s calendar, celebrated its 12th year of fundraising, once again supporting emergency services that play a vital role across Wales.

Chairman Zenon ‘Sid’ Wozniak said: “The air ambulance service is close to the hearts of motorcyclists and anyone who has a serious health episode or accident.

“It has become one of a handful of causes we like to support which provide vital help locally to those in their time of need.”

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.

As a pan-Wales service, the dedicated air ambulance crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

Sid said: “I didn’t realise that the service takes hospital treatments to the patient. I always assumed the air ambulance picked the patient up and took them to A and E.

“It’s incredible that they administer blood at the scene and can even do surgery on location. They are so highly skilled and much needed.”

He added: “This has made me want to find out more about the work they do. I’ve already asked the Charity if they can organise a talk at our Treasurer Peter Evans’ hotel in the town.”

The Goldwing Light Parade is in its 12th year and Sid is very keen to keep supporting the Wales Air Ambulance Charity for as long as he can.

He said: “I want to carry on for at least another ten years fundraising for the service and I hope we can keep raising more and more money.

“Our Facebook group has grown a massive amount. Three years ago, we had a couple of hundred followers, that now stands at just shy of one thousand five hundred people.

“Our supporters are across the world too. We are hoping this will, in time, help boost the international donations we receive for the charities we support.”

Sid said: “It takes months to prepare the light parade! We’ve already set the dates for next year and the year after.

“We have a fantastic team that manages to make it look effortless. The local Lions are part of our committee. Our treasurer Peter, who runs Evans Hotel, used to host the evening event while the town and county councils, as well as the Harbormaster, all play a key role too.

“But it’s the crowds who play the biggest part. I can no longer be part of the ride rolling light parade as I am too busy during the event, but the riders all told me how fantastic they were. Cheering them on and generously donating.

“Without them we wouldn’t be able raise as much as we do for such incredible causes.”

Elaine Orr, the Charity’s Regional Fundraising Manager for North West Wales said: “Llandudno Goldwing Light Parade has become a key date in the town’s diary.

“It’s wonderful how it is gaining support each year and attracting people from all over the world to visit Llandudno.

“We are hugely grateful for the organisers’ continued support and commitment to our charity.

“It costs £11.2 million to run our lifesaving service so we really rely on fundraising events like this to help us reach our target.

“This year’s £3,500 donation will cover the cost of a mission and help dozens of patients gain access to our aftercare service.”