Aquathlon raises £5,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance

In its third year, the Builth Wells Charity Aquathlon took place at The Groe on Sunday, August 9, and attracted participants from across the UK.

Entrants travelled from as far afield as Harrogate and Gosport to take part in the event, which included three separate races: a 200m pool swim followed by a 3km run, a 400m swim with a 5km run, and a two-person relay consisting of a 400m swim and a 5km run.

The youngest competitor was just 12-years-old, while the oldest was in their seventies.

This year’s aquathlon raised £5,000 for Wales Air Ambulance.

Helen Tuite, co-organiser of the event, said: "It was wonderful to see such a diverse group coming together, proving this is truly an event for everyone."

Hugh Tamlyn, regional fundraising manager for the Wales Air Ambulance, attended the event and also took part as a competitor.

He said: "I was delighted to take part in the annual aquathlon. It is a hugely popular event, thanks to the organisers, and it was wonderful to see people of all ages getting involved.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the day. A huge thank you to all the organisers, volunteers and participants that made it such a successful event.

"The Wales Air Ambulance relies on public donations to raise £13 million every year to keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road.

"Fundraisers like this one, which raised £5,000, will help us to continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.

"We really appreciate the support from Builth Wells Aquathlon committee. You’ve all played a part in saving lives across Wales."

The Wales Air Ambulance provides advanced critical care across the country, delivering consultant-led treatment at the scene of emergencies and transporting patients to the most appropriate hospital.

The Builth Wells Charity Aquathlon is in its third year and is growing in popularity. (Image: Helen Tuite)

The service is delivered through a partnership between the third and public sectors and is supported by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), which provides highly trained NHS consultants and critical care practitioners.

Local businesses also played an important role in the event’s success, with Charcroft Electronics in Llanwrtyd Wells and Coyle Surfacing among the sponsors.

Vicky Mellor, director at Charcroft Electronics, said: "We’re proud to support this fantastic community event for such a worthy cause."

Anyone interested in volunteering, corporate sponsorship, or match funding for next year’s event is encouraged to email builthaquathlon@gmail.com.