A St John Ambulance Cymru volunteer is nearing the final few months of his 1,000 mile Walk Around Wales in support of the charity, having raised £55,000 so far.
Retired engineer Eric Goulden, who is a member of the first aid charity for Wales’ Holyhead Division, began his walk in 2024. He first completed Offa’s Dyke before deciding to set off from North Wales along the Wales Coast Path last September, walking on weekends only.
After taking a break over the winter months, he resumed his trek along the 1,062-mile route at the end of March, starting in Aberporth and reaching Penmaen on the Gower Peninsula on the 18th May.
Having split the route into 69 sections, Eric set himself a fundraising target of £69,000 and is hoping to reach this figure before he completes his challenge, with the finish expected to be in July.
Eric said:
“I’ve been so lucky with the weather, it’s been great. I’ve been staggered by the beauty to be honest, it’s spectacular and the wildlife’s wonderful.
“The highlights have been the people I’ve met along the way. I just bump into people, people talk to me and because I’m walking for St John Ambulance Cymru people are interested in what I’m doing.
“I’m doing this to raise awareness of St John and people genuinely want to know what we do and I talk about the benefits of volunteering. I’ve certainly got a great deal of benefit from volunteering and I think it’s a good thing to do.”
St John Ambulance Cymru Chief Executive, Richard Lee added:
“Eric’s efforts epitomise the dedication and hard work St John People demonstrate in communities across Wales every day, providing first aid, sharing lifesaving skills and responding to calls to help patients through our work with partners including the ambulance service.
“We are so proud of Eric’s achievements and so grateful for the amazing fundraising total he has reached so far. We look forward to cheering him on as he nears the end of his amazing walk around Wales.
“If you’re walking on the Wales Coast Path somewhere between Penmaen and Chepstow over the next few months, you may well bump into Eric in his green St John Ambulance Cymru t-shirt.”
For the latest updates on Eric’s walk and to donate to his fundraising total visit his Just Giving page.
If you would like to fundraise for St John Ambulance Cymru or find out more about volunteering with the charity visit our volunteering page.
Gwirfoddolwr St John Ambulance Cymru yn camu tuag at ei darged codi arian wrth iddo parhau ei daith o amgylch Cymru
Mae un o wirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru yn agosáu at fisoedd olaf ei daith gerdded 1,000 milltir o amgylch Cymru i gefnogi'r elusen, ar ôl codi £55,000 hyd yn hyn.
Dechreuodd y peiriannydd ymddeoledig Eric Goulden, sy'n aelod o Adran Caergybi elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru, ei daith gerdded yn 2024. Cwblhaodd Glawdd Offa yn gyntaf cyn penderfynu cychwyn ar hyd Llwybr Arfordir Cymru yng nghogledd Cymru fis Medi diwethaf, gan gerdded ar benwythnosau yn unig.
Ar ôl cymryd seibiant dros fisoedd y gaeaf, ailddechreuodd ar ei daith 1,062 milltir o hyd ddiwedd mis Mawrth, gan ddechrau yn Aberporth a chyrraedd Penmaen ar Benrhyn Gŵyr ar 18fed Mai.
Ar ôl rhannu'r daith yn 69 o adrannau, gosododd Eric darged codi arian o £69,000 iddo'i hun, ac mae'n gobeithio cyrraedd y ffigur hwn cyn iddo gwblhau ei her, ac mae'n disgwyl gorffen ym mis Gorffennaf.
Dywedodd Eric:
“Rydw i wedi bod mor lwcus gyda’r tywydd, mae wedi bod yn wych. Rwyf wedi fy syfrdanu gan yr harddwch i ddweud y gwir, mae’n ysblennydd ac mae’r bywyd gwyllt yn hyfryd.
“Yr uchafbwyntiau hyd yn hyn yw’r bobl rydw i wedi’u cwrdd ar hyd y daith. Rydw i’n dod ar draws pobl, mae pobl yn siarad â mi, ac oherwydd fy mod i’n cerdded dros St John Ambulance Cymru mae gan bobl diddordeb am yr hyn yr wyf yn ei wneud.
“Rydw i’n gwneud hyn i godi ymwybyddiaeth o St John ac mae pobl wir eisiau gwybod beth rydyn ni’n ei wneud ac rydw i’n siarad am fanteision gwirfoddoli. Rydw i wedi cael llawer iawn o fudd o wirfoddoli yn sicr, ac rydw i’n meddwl ei fod yn beth da i’w wneud.”
Ychwanegodd Prif Weithredwr St John Ambulance Cymru, Richard Lee:
“Mae ymdrechion Eric yn crynhoi’r ymroddiad a’r gwaith caled y mae Pobl St John yn ei ddangos mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru bob dydd, gan ddarparu cymorth cyntaf, rhannu sgiliau achub bywyd ac ymateb i alwadau i helpu cleifion trwy ein gwaith gyda phartneriaid gan gynnwys y gwasanaeth ambiwlans.
“Rydym mor falch o gyflawniadau Eric ac mor ddiolchgar am y cyfanswm codi arian anhygoel y mae wedi’i gyrraedd hyd yn hyn. Edrychwn ymlaen at ei gefnogi wrth iddo agosáu at ddiwedd ei daith gerdded arbennig o amgylch Cymru.
“Os ydych chi’n cerdded ar Lwybr Arfordir Cymru yn rhywle rhwng Penmaen a Chas-gwent dros yr ychydig fisoedd nesaf, efallai y byddwch chi’n dod ar draws Eric yn ei grys-t gwyrdd St John Ambulance Cymru.”
Am y diweddariadau diweddaraf am daith Eric ac i gyfrannu at ei gyfanswm codi arian, ewch i'w tudalen Just Giving.
Os hoffech chi godi arian ar gyfer St John Ambulance Cymru neu ddysgu mwy am wirfoddoli gyda'r elusen, ewch i'n tudalen gwirfoddoli