A father-of-two from Cardiff has raised over £1,300 for the Wales Air Ambulance by running the Porthcawl 10k in memory of his late wife, Lindsay, who died in October 2025. Michael Colley, 53, completed the race alongside his three closest friends—Andrew Jones, Jonathan Spiller, and Gareth Wisdom—to honour Lindsay and thank the charity that tried to save her life.
A tribute to a beloved wife and mother
Michael, who was married to Lindsay for 26 years and together for 32, described her as a 'wonderful person taken too early.' He said: 'She was a caring and beautiful person who was a great mother to Ellis and Dion and the most wonderful wife to me.' The team ran in her memory, with Michael adding: 'The air ambulance crew tried everything to save Lindsay. Unfortunately, it was too late and there was nothing that they could do. They were very comforting to myself and my boys and direct on telling me everything that was happening. It was the worst day of my life.'
Fundraising success and emotional finish
Michael initially set a fundraising target of £500 but was overwhelmed by the support, raising £1,300. Reflecting on the race, he said: 'It was my first time taking part in this race, and it was a fantastic, well-organised race with great support. It was very emotional when the four of us crossed the finishing line together. Thank you to everyone who donated. I was very pleased with the amount raised from our friends and family, all for Lindsay.'
Wales Air Ambulance: A vital service
The Wales Air Ambulance is a consultant-led service that brings hospital-standard treatments to patients at the scene, potentially transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital. It operates through a unique partnership between the charity and the NHS, with the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) providing highly skilled consultants and critical care practitioners. These teams can administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions, and conduct minor operations at the incident site. As a pan-Wales service, crews travel across the country to deliver emergency care.
Charity's gratitude and ongoing need
Christian Sullivan, Wales Air Ambulance's regional fundraising manager, praised the team: 'A huge congratulations to Michael and his friends for completing the Porthcawl 10k in memory of Lindsay. It is heart-warming that, after losing Lindsay, Michael wanted to support our Charity in her honour, which is a lovely tribute to her. Thank you to everyone who supported Michael, Andrew, Jonathan and Gareth with this fundraiser. They've raised an incredible amount for the Charity.'
He added: 'The Wales Air Ambulance needs to raise £13m every year to help keep our helicopters in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road. These funds will help us to continue to be there for the people of Wales when they need us most.'
Support Michael's cause
There is still time to support Michael's fundraising efforts. Donations can be made through his online fundraising page, which remains open for those wishing to contribute in Lindsay's memory.
