Story
I'm James Hook, a Wales Air Ambulance Ambassador and a former Wales and British and Irish Lions rugby international.
Wales Air Ambulance is a charity close to mine and my family's heart, as they saved my eldest son, Harrison, when he was just a baby. They more recently helped a friend and fellow rugby union player of mine too, Nick Williams, who suffered a cardiac arrest.
The Wales Air Ambulance delivers advanced lifesaving medical care to people across Wales 24/7. They are the only air ambulance charity, based in, and dedicated to, the people of Wales and rely entirely on your charitable donations to raise £11.2 million every year to keep the helicopters in the air and fleet of rapid response vehicles on the road.
After seeing the Charity’s appeal for supporters to join their annual fundraiser, Walk Wales, which coincides with the Charity marking 50,000 missions, I decided to take on my own event– Hooky’s Hike.
On Tuesday 4 June, I will embark on a 100-mile hike, spread across five days, from Tenby to Mumbles in aid of the lifesaving charity.
The route will be:
Day one - Tenby to Laugharne
Day two - Laugharne to Kidwelly
Day three - Kidwelly to Llanelli
Day four - Llanelli to Rhossili
Day five - Rhosilli to Mumbles
I have been an ambassador for a few years now, and this is my opportunity to give something back through raising awareness and funds.
I really hope that we can raise a lot of money in the process, and that the public will support my challenge because you never know when you or your family may need the Charity’s help.
Throughout the week I will be sharing checkpoints of where I’ll be, and we would love for anybody nearby to come and say hello to give me a much-needed boost. It’s a long way, and hilly in parts but knowing that every step and penny raised will save lives is my driving force and will give me the motivation to carry on.
I'd like to give a special mention to my sponsors, The Low Cost Van Group and Owens Group who have enabled this event to happen.
Please support my challenge and help me to raise funds for this awesome charity. Your donations will help keep this vital service in Wales.