Ex-Health Manager Raises £6,200 for Wales Air Ambulance Through Golf Club Efforts
A former health board manager has successfully raised thousands of pounds for the Wales Air Ambulance, with significant support from her local golf club. Kath McGrath, who served as the Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board before retiring, spearheaded the fundraising initiative during her tenure as Ladies Captain at Southerndown Golf Club in Ogmore-by-Sea for the 2025-26 season.
A Personal Connection to the Cause
Kath McGrath, a 65-year-old resident of Bridgend, chose the Wales Air Ambulance as her designated charity due to a profound personal and professional connection. With over 40 years of service in the NHS, beginning as a nurse, training as a midwife, and advancing into management roles, she developed a deep appreciation for the critical care provided by the air ambulance service.
"I have a deep appreciation!" Kath emphasized. "When I managed operational services in Cwm Taf, I was involved as the Health Board representative on one of the Wales Air Ambulance committees as it transitioned from a 12-hour to a round-the-clock service. It was a natural choice for it to be my chosen charity, as I have seen firsthand the difference it makes to those in greatest need."
Understanding the Lifesaving Service
The Wales Air Ambulance operates as a consultant-led service, delivering hospital-standard treatments directly to patients and, when necessary, transporting them to the most appropriate medical facility for their specific condition. This innovative model is facilitated through a unique partnership between the third sector and the public sector.
Annually, the Wales Air Ambulance Charity must raise £13 million to maintain its fleet of helicopters and rapid response vehicles. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) equips these vehicles with highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners, enabling advanced interventions such as anaesthesia administration, blood transfusions, and minor surgeries at incident sites.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews travel extensively across the country to provide emergency care, regardless of their base location. Kath's previous role allowed her to observe the service up close, including visits to one of its operational bases.
Fundraising Initiatives and Community Support
During her captaincy, Kath, a mother of three and grandmother to six, mobilized the ladies' section of Southerndown Golf Club to organize a series of fundraising events. These efforts included donations from members who traveled to Spain for golfing trips, raffles, a charity open day at the golf course, a 70s/80s disco night, and a summer lunch hosted at her home.
Additional activities, such as a Christmas decoration workshop and the sale of a scenic calendar featuring Southerndown Golf Club, further contributed to the fundraising total. Kath recently presented a cheque for £6,200 to Christian Sullivan, the Charity's Regional Fundraising Manager.
"The crew are well-trained professionals taking the hospital setting to the scene – they make such an enormous difference to patient outcomes," Kath noted. "Even at our golf course, there have been several members and their loved ones who have needed the service. It does such an incredible job."
Recognition and Gratitude
Christian Sullivan expressed heartfelt gratitude for Kath's efforts and the club's support. "Kath has a close connection with the Wales Air Ambulance family, after spending so much of her work life at the frontline of healthcare. It is so wonderful that she nominated our lifesaving service as her chosen charity for her year as Ladies Captain," he said.
"We are grateful to everyone at Southerndown Golf Club for supporting our lifesaving service and helping raise such an incredible amount. Every pound raised will help save lives. Diolch yn fawr!"
This initiative highlights how community engagement and personal dedication can significantly impact vital emergency services, ensuring they continue to operate and save lives across Wales.
