Rhys' parents with the support of family, friends and colleagues, took on this challenge to support SWAST CFRS in his memory. We did this on Thursday 26th May 2022. The kit Rhys used to take when he was first on scene was also carried to the top of the mountain as he intended. Fund raising will close on 30th June with a presentation to SWAST CEO Will Warrender CEO to be arranged for the following month.

Rhys' original post follows:

I am going to be climbing Mount Snowdon but this won’t just be a climb it will be a battle as I will be climbing it with a full emergency response kit on my back which contains all the life saving kit I use in my role as a community first responder for the ambulance service. This includes a full oxygen cylinder as well as a  defibrillator and all the other equipment which is needed in a medical emergency. 

Community first responders are volunteers who are trained by the ambulance service to attend certain types of emergency calls in the area where they live or work. Their aim is to reach a potential life threatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance crew arrives

Community first responders do not get paid for their time or for any mileage allowance for their cars.

We respond to life threatening emergencies which include cardiac arrests, seizures, breathing difficulties, falls and injuries. 

CFRs volunteer their spare time alongside their full time jobs to be able to help the ambulance service by arriving first on scene and delivering vital first aid before the paramedic crew arrive. 

I am raising awareness and money for first responders so that we can arrange for more equipment such as a lifting chair and to obtain a fuel card to help pay for fuel expenses.