A THANKFUL father has raised over £16,500 for the Wales Air Ambulance after completing 52 walks up Wales’ most prominent peak.

Elfed ‘Gyrn Goch’ Williams, 57, has finished his ‘52 Challenge’ which saw him climbing up Snowdon for the 52nd time this year in order to raise funds for the Wales Air Ambulance (WAA), which saved his son’s life.

The conditions were extreme with snow blizzards and temperatures well below minus 10 degrees hampering Elfed’s efforts, although nothing could stop him getting to the top.

He was joined on his final ascent by celebrities including rugby coach Robin McBryde, TV star Iolo Williams, former Welsh international Owain Tudur Jones and comic Dilwyn Morgan.

Many others also supported Elfed in his endeavour.

Father-of-two Mr Williams, 57, of Trefor, said: “In August 2013, my son Tomos Huw was unloading a lorry at Blaenau Ffestiniog when a half ton piece of plastic toppled over, knocking him off the lorry onto a concrete loading pad.

“Tomos, then 20, suffered a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain.

“Colleagues dialled 999 and the WAA was scrambled from its base in Caernarfon Airport.

“Tomos was flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor within 40 minutes.

“So severe were his injuries, he had to be transferred immediately by air ambulance to the major trauma unit at North Staffs Hospital in Stoke.

“If it was not for the Wales Air Ambulance he would not have survived.”

Tomos is now well on his way to a full recovery and even joined his father on one of his recent summits.

In addition to pledging to walk up Snowdon 52 times in a year, Mr Williams also organised a grand finale ‘Concert to Celebrate the 52 Challenge’.

Singers Rhys Meirion, also a WAA fund-raiser, Sioned Terry, Tudur Owen, Piantel, Dilwyn Morgan and Côr Meibion Caernarfon performed at the concert at Galeri on 8 December in Caernarfon, with a raffle and grand auction during the evening and all proceeds going to the Wales Air Ambulance. 

Mr Williams, who is a warden at Glynllifon College, said: “If it was not for the Wales Air Ambulance Tomos would not have survived, it’s as simple as that.

“I have now gone up all the routes to the top of Snowdon.

“My last and 52nd journey in 2017 was via the Snowdon Ranger route as that is the safest in extreme weather.

“It was my 43rd time up that particular route!

“I have also been up Rhyd Ddu three times, Watkin twice and Pyg, Miners, Crib Goch and Llanberis once apiece.

“I would like to thank everyone who has supported me on this journey, from those who have come with me on many of the trips to those who have supported this cause financially.

“The staff and students at Glynllifon have been amazing too, so supportive and I would like to thank them sincerely.”

“I never get bored of this walk because I see something different every time.

“This last time. I popped into my local for half a shandy to celebrate at the end!”

If you would like to sponsor Mr Williams, please visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Elfed-Williams1.