A LIFE-SAVING charity in Wales has received a huge boost of more than £14,000.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has raised over £14,000 this year for Wales Air Ambulance, to help keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road across the country.

TfW employees voted for Wales Air Ambulance to be its Charity of the Year to benefit from money raised via fundraising activities.

As well as supporting its employees to get involved in fundraising and appeals, TfW is also providing support through delay repay compensation, which customers can choose to donate to Wales Air Ambulance, and lost property revenue from unclaimed items.

Marie Daly, TfW chief customer and culture officer, and a small group of colleagues from TfW recently visited the Wales Air Ambulance base in Cardiff to learn more about what the charity does.

Marie said: "As a large organisation operating across Wales, it's really important that we're supporting charities across our local communities. Our employees are really passionate about voting for these charities and this year they used their voice to vote for Wales Air Ambulance.

"We've been working with Wales Air Ambulance to get their brand onto one of our North-to-South Mark-4 trains, which we're really excited about, to make sure we're promoting the charity and all the great things that it does for the people of Wales."

Siany Martin, Wales Air Ambulance's corporate fundraiser said: "We're so proud to be working with TfW. Their passion for our service and the charity is second to none and we're just so pleased they have chosen to support us.

"Both staff and commuters are making a lifesaving contribution that will benefit people across the country in their time of need and we cannot thank them enough."

• Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. For the patient, this can mean hours saved when compared to standard care and is proven to significantly improve the chances of survival and early recovery.

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.