Welshpool’s Coed-y-Dinas store was part of a fundraising effort that managed to raise more than £11,000 for Wales Air Ambulance in 2023.

Coed-Y-Dinas and other Charlie’s stores in the area donated more than £15,000 for the Air Ambulance, with £11,159 going to Wales Air Ambulance and £3,875 going to the Midlands division.

The money was raised from donations made by staff and customers across the Christmas period, with Coed-Y-Dinas putting together a number of events and attractions as part of the fundraising effort, such as welcoming some real reindeer, providing donkey rides for children and holding wreath making classes with the brilliant Leanne from Serendipity Flowers, Welshpool.

As has become an annual festive tradition for Charlies, the company also donated £2 from the sale of every real Christmas tree.

Charlies Stores Managing Director, Rebecca Lloyd, said: “As ever we have been blown away by the generosity of our customers and staff. Each year we work hard to create meaningful festive experiences for our customers, and feel honoured that so many Christmas traditions take place in our stores.

“Nothing makes us happier than seeing photos of our customers enjoying what we’ve created and the fact that this also helped us to raise such a large sum of money for the Air Ambulance and Lingen Davies makes it even more rewarding.

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“We’re so grateful for the continued support and we’d like to thank everyone who visited us and donated the much needed funds.”

Representatives from Wales Air Ambulance, Phae Jones, Senior Individual Giving and Legacy Manager, and Debra Sima, Community Fundraiser, accepted the donation from Charlie’s.

Mark Stevens, Head of Fundraising at Wales Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank all of the staff and customers of Charlies Stores for their continued support of our Charity.

“To raise over £15,000 in one year is an incredible sum of money and is a wonderful achievement, which will help our Charity continue to be there for the people of Wales when they require us the most.

“Charlies have been avid supporters of ours and to have raised over £150,000 for air ambulance charities is astonishing. Those funds will enable ourselves and those at Midlands to help so many people, and to reunite families with their loved ones, for that, we couldn't be more grateful."