A St John Ambulance Cymru volunteer who raised tens of thousands of pounds for the charity by walking around Wales, is to be made a Member of the Order of St John in recognition of his fundraising efforts.
Eric Goulden, who is a member of the charity’s Holyhead Division, raised more than £75,000 by walking over 1,000 miles following Offa’s Dyke and then the route of the Wales Coast Path.
He will officially be welcomed into the Priory for Wales during St John Ambulance Cymru’s Priory Visitation to North Wales at St Asaph Cathedral on Saturday 25th October.
Appointments and promotions to the Order of St John, a working Order of Chivalry of the British Crown, are approved by His Majesty the King. The service will see a total of 19 of the charity’s volunteers from the region receive recognition for their achievements and long service.
St John Ambulance Cymru Chief Executive, Richard Lee said:
“Eric’s admission to the Order of St John is just reward for his fantastic fundraising efforts. We rely on donations to continue our work to help people across Wales learn lifesaving skills, so it is especially nice to see people from all over the country give such amazing support to Eric’s appeal.
“I know he spoke to many people as he met them along the way, so hopefully they too will join us in congratulating Eric on the completion of his fundraising challenge.”
As well as covering the costs of travel and accommodation to ensure all donations to his total went to charity, Eric even managed to fit in his hike alongside his regular volunteering duties, providing first aid cover at events alongside fellow St John People.
Eric said:
“It’s a privilege to volunteer alongside a great team of people. I didn’t join St John for any other reason than to give some of my time to a worthy cause and it’s very humbling to be recognised in this way.”
Having now conquered his Walk Around Wales, Eric’s next challenge will see him form part of a group of eight intrepid fundraisers taking on a Walk along the Great Wall of China in May 2026 to raise money for St John Ambulance Cymru.
Gwirfoddolwr a gododd dros £75,000 ar gyfer St John Ambulance Cymru i dderbyn cydnabyddiaeth arbennig yng ngwasanaeth yn Llanelwy
Bydd un o wirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru, a gododd ddegau o filoedd o bunnoedd i'r elusen drwy gerdded o amgylch Cymru, yn cael ei dderbyn yn Aelod o Urdd Sant Ioan i gydnabod ei ymdrechion codi arian.
Cododd Eric Goulden, sy'n aelod o Adran Caergybi'r elusen, fwy na £75,000 drwy gerdded dros 1,000 milltir ar hyd Clawdd Offa ac yna Llwybr Arfordir Cymru.
Bydd yn cael ei groesawu'n swyddogol i Briordy Cymru yn ystod Ymweliad Priordy St John Ambulance Cymru â Gogledd Cymru yng Nghadeirlan Llanelwy ar ddydd Sadwrn 25 Hydref.
Mae penodiadau a dyrchafiadau i Urdd Sant Ioan, Urdd Sifalri gweithredol y Goron Brydeinig, wedi'u cymeradwyo gan Ei Fawrhydi'r Brenin. Bydd y gwasanaeth yn gweld cyfanswm o 19 o wirfoddolwyr yr elusen o'r rhanbarth yn derbyn cydnabyddiaeth am eu cyflawniadau a'u gwasanaeth hir.
Dywedodd Prif Weithredwr St John Ambulance Cymru, Richard Lee:
“Mae croesawu Eric i Urdd Sant Ioan yn wobr haeddiannol am ei ymdrechion codi arian gwych. Rydym yn dibynnu ar roddion i barhau â’n gwaith i helpu pobl ledled Cymru i ddysgu sgiliau achub bywyd, felly mae’n arbennig o braf gweld pobl o bob cwr o’r wlad yn cefnogi apêl Eric.
“Rwy’n gwybod ei fod wedi siarad â llawer o bobl ar hyd ei daith, felly gobeithio y byddan nhw hefyd yn ymuno â ni i longyfarch Eric ar gwblhau ei her codi arian.”
Yn ogystal â thalu costau teithio a llety i sicrhau bod cyfanswm y holl roddion yn mynd tuag at yr elusen, llwyddodd Eric hyd yn oed i drefnu ei daith gerdded ochr yn ochr â'i ddyletswyddau gwirfoddoli rheolaidd, gan ddarparu cymorth cyntaf mewn digwyddiadau gyda phobl St John eraill.
Dywedodd Eric:
“Mae’n fraint gwirfoddoli ochr yn ochr â thîm gwych o bobl. Wnes i ddim ymuno â Sant Ioan am unrhyw reswm heblaw rhoi rhywfaint o fy amser i achos teilwng ac mae’n ostyngedig iawn cael fy nghydnabod fel hyn.”
Wedi gorffen ei daith gerdded o gwmpas Cymru, bydd her nesaf Eric yn ei weld yn rhan o grŵp o wyth o godwyr arian dewr sy'n mynd ar Daith Gerdded ar hyd Mur Mawr Tsieina ym mis Mai 2026, i godi arian ar gyfer St John Ambulance Cymru.