Posted: Thu 23rd Mar 2017

Caffi HEMS Surprises Regular Customer For 90th Birthday

news.wales / newyddion.cymru
This article is old - Published: Thursday, Mar 23rd, 2017

A regular customer was surprised with a birthday party by the staff at Caffi HEMS for his milestone birthday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gwilym Owen received a surprise for his 90th birthday, as the staff and volunteers at Caffi HEMS arranged a celebratory treat for him at the Caernarfon café. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Volunteers and staff at the café baked a cake and decorated the restaurant to celebrate his big day, and surprised him with a gift. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Café HEMS Chef, Iwan Williams, said: “Gwilym is a regular customer to the café and has raised funds for Wales Air Ambulance several times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“When we heard that his 90th birthday was approaching, we decided we would like to do something special for him. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It started off as just an idea to make a small cake for him, and putting up a few banners in the café. But soon, more and more people wanted to chip in to do something a little special. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Staff and customers started contributing to a present, and we treated him to a flight voucher to thank him for his support for Wales Air Ambulance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Professional photographer, Iolo Penri, also gave his time to take some photos of Gwilym, to celebrate his milestone birthday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By raising funds for WAA, and popping into Caffi HEMS, Gwilym is helping to raise the £6.5 million needed every year to keep Wales Air Ambulance’s services running.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Each of Wales Air Ambulance’s missions cost around £1,500, funded by kind donations to the Welsh helicopter charity. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caffi HEMS, based in Caernarfon airport, sells tea, cakes and freshly prepared meals, with the proceeds going towards Wales Air Ambulance. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the café launched, it has funded over 100 of WAA’s lifesaving missions across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Victoria Williams, Caffi HEMS Manager, said: “It is supporters like Gwilym who keep our helicopters flying, and the staff at the café wanted to acknowledge his lifesaving support for WAA as well as celebrate his 90th birthday. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Caffi HEMS chef, Taryn, and Front of House, Kellie, thought of putting the party together and support for the idea soon rolled in. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By popping into Caffi HEMS and grabbing some tea and cake, you can help generate vital donations, and Gwilym’s repeated support means a lot to us. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Everyone at Caffi HEMS and Wales Air Ambulance would like to wish Gwilym many happy returns, and thank him for his outstanding support.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​



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