Shane Williams to take on 100km Wales Air Ambulance challenge
The route stretches across South Wales from Cardiff and finishes is Llanelli
Wales rugby legend Shane Williams will be among those getting on his bike this weekend to help raise money for the Wales Air Ambulance.
The former Welsh international and British and Irish Lion is joining cyclists for the charity’s second Cycle 100 event on Sunday.
The gruelling 100-kilometre route will take riders from Cardiff to the Wales Air Ambulance headquarters in Dafen, Llanelli, passing through Bridgend, Port Talbot and Swansea.
It’s 25 years since Wales’ distinctive red helicopters took to the skies. Since then, more than 57,000 journeys have been made by the life-saving crews. Each mission costs an average of £3,545.
The Charity relies on charitable donations to raise the £13million needed to keep its four helicopters and its rapid response vehicles saving precious time and lives which they say is achieved “all thanks to the people of Wales”.
Head of Campaigns Gill Windley says that public support had seen the charity grow from “an ambulance service where you collect the patient and take them to the hospital to now being able to bring the hospital to them”.
Shane Williams, World Rugby Player of the Year in 2008, will be joined by members of the Wales Air Ambulance medical crew, including Dr Fliss Clarke and Critical Care Practitioner Derwyn Jones.
Organisers say every kilometre cycled this weekend will help support the Wales Air Ambulance and its lifesaving work across Wales.