A SERIAL fundraiser from Ruthin is all set for her next challenge after raising more than £15,500 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity in 2020.

Despite Covid-19 putting a halt to many activities worldwide, Sally Smith managed to complete a total of 52 parkruns throughout the year alongside friend Manon Wilkinson.

All in all, the community helped Sally raise £13,705.36 and with the additional £1,873.29 in gift aid she received took the total up to £15,578.65.

But, she won’t be stopping there as her next mission on behalf of Wales Air Ambulance, who she now also volunteers for, has already begun.

For 2021, Sally - who admits she has ‘fallen in love with the charity and its work’ is now set to take on a new 213 mile challenge throughout 2021.

Entitled ‘All About The Base’, it sees the Denbighshire County Council Community Resource Team Coordinator and her colleague and friend Rebecca Szekely run the distances between the four Wales Air Ambulance bases; From Caernarfon through Welshpool and Llanelli to Cardiff.

Having began their year long challenge on January 1, the pair have already completed around 50 miles of the challenge.

Sally says she decided to support the Wales Air Ambulance once more this year, especially as the charity is celebrating its 20th birthday on March 1, 2021 with their ‘My20’ fundraising challenge.

Sally said: “Having the Wales Air Ambulance operate in rural areas like our community is very important and we’re very lucky to have it.

“I decided to go big or go home once again this year on behalf of the charity. I was at an absolute loss after completing the parkruns last year and decided that I couldn’t just sit around and do nothing so that’s where this new challenge comes in.”

Sally has been running her distances by tracking the miles on her watch. Rebecca has been completing hers either out or on the treadmill at home.

Sally added: “Once restrictions are lifted, we can start running together but until then we’re continuing to clock up the miles.

“We might be in lockdown, but we can still exercise and still raise money for this great cause. We have even signed up for the Cardiff Half Marathon in 2022 as a result of this.

“I’m grateful to Rebecca for joining me on this as it’s always hard to run on your own - particularly after running with Manon and the parkrun family during 2019/2020.

“The Wales Air Ambulance needs the money to keep its services going and I’m pleased to be able to support them again this year.”

The Wales Air Ambulance relies entirely on the public’s support to help keep its helicopters flying. It now needs to raise £8 million every year to operate the service, with each mission on average costing £1,500 and with one helicopter now providing 24/7 support to the whole of Wales.

To donate to Sally’s latest challenge in aid of the charity, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/allaboutthebase