Arriva Trains Wales | CYCLISTS CROSS THE THIN BLUE LINE FOR WALES AIR AMBULANCE

CYCLISTS CROSS THE THIN BLUE LINE FOR WALES AIR AMBULANCE

Eight cyclists from North Wales Police have completed a 176 mile sponsored bike ride from Cardiff to Caernarfon to help raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance.

North Wales Police Team Members Supported by Arriva Trains Wales, the cyclists decided to take on the challenge to raise funds in memory of one of their colleagues, PC Steven Nesfield, who died suddenly last summer.

PC Timothy Baxter of North Wales Police, said: “It’s been a tough four days battling through wind and rain but it’s a tremendously satisfying feeling to have completed the ride.

We rode along the 'Lon Las Cymru' cycle track from Cardiff to Caernarfon, passing through Brecon, Rhayader and Dolgellau on the way. We estimate that the total amount raised for the Wales Air Ambulance is about £5,000.”

The cyclists, Tim Baxter, Steve Hughes, Dafydd Hughes, Kelvin Palfryman, Ifan Jones, Rob Owen, Richie Davies, Bev Makanjee, Becky Siviter and David Martin trained hard for six months to prepare for the challenge.

PC Baxter continued: “This is our first event for the 'Air Ambulance', although Steve and I did the route last year for a local hospice. Caernarfon is one of the busiest Air Ambulances in the UK and following the tragic death of our colleague, we wanted to raise as much as possible to support their vital work.”

The two Air Ambulances operating in Wales are based at Caernarfon and Swansea airports. A pilot can have the helicopter airborne within 3 minutes of receiving an emergency call and can cover more than two miles per minute. The helicopter has the capacity to carry one pilot, two paramedics and two patients.

Cyril Howe, station manager for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “The service provided by the Air Ambulance is very important to thousands of people living in rural areas of Wales and we are delighted to have been able to support the team with their travel arrangements.”