Customers of a Deeside store have helped raise more £22,000 for Air Ambulance lifesavers

Generous customers and staff of a Deeside store helped raise over £100,000 to support the lifesaving work of air ambulance services.

After raising an incredible £22,109 for the charity in 2020, the total amount donated by dedicated staff and generous customers of Charlies Stores now stands at £106,637.

As has become a Christmas tradition for Charlies, £2 was donated from the sale of every real Christmas tree.

This year the total number of trees sold amounted to over 5,300 across all stores.

Three of the stores found themselves to be in particularly fine voice over the festive period, welcoming some special singing visitors to take up residency.

The Coed-y-Dinas store was joined by three penguins, while Queenferry welcomed reindeer and the Shrewsbury store’s yeti delighted customers with their Christmas tunes.

The money will be split between with £14,900 going to Wales Air Ambulance and £7,209 to Midlands Air Ambulance.

Charlies Stores Managing Director, Rebecca Lloyd, said: “In these difficult times we’ve been blown away by the generosity of our customers and staff.”

“More than ever it felt important for us to raise money for such a worthwhile cause and we’re so grateful for the support.”

“Reaching over £100,000 makes me incredibly proud and I want to thank everyone who has donated the much needed funds to the Air Ambulance over the years.”

Mark Stevens, Fundraising Manager at Welsh Air Ambulance, said: “A huge thank you to all the staff and customers of Charlies Stores for their continued support our Charity.”

“£14,900 is an incredible sum of money, particularly in light of the challenges brought about by the pandemic. ”

“Last December, Wales Air Ambulance became a 24/7 service and to keep our helicopters in the air, we need to raise £8 million a year.

This donation will help us to serve Wales and save lives, day and night.”