Brecon-born sister and brother Gemma and Matthew Schiebe have raised thousands of pounds for ‘The Wish Ambulance’ – a project within The Welsh Ambulance Services Charity that is vital in helping terminally ill patients achieve their final wishes.

The charity helped their mother Karen Schiebe to fulfil her dying wish of spending time at the beach in Tenby with her children one last time.

Gemma and Matthew explained that their Mum was such a giving person, it made sense to fundraise to keep her memory alive and for her legacy to be helping others. Sadly, Karen had only recently been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour, there were no treatment options and heartbreakingly her life expectancy was short. Karen passed away less than two weeks after her final beach trip, highlighting just how important it is that this charity is able to help families in desperate times.

The Wish ambulance
The Charity helped their mother Karen Schiebe to fulfil her dying wish of spending time at the beach in Tenby with her children one last time. (Provided)

The siblings recently presented their fundraising total of more than £6,900 to the charity – just four months after their mother, Karen, had been taken on the emotional final journey to her favourite place. Gemma and Matthew raised money through online giving, sharing their story on social media, speaking to friends and family, and collecting donations at Karen’s funeral, where they displayed photos from the Wish Ambulance trip.

Gemma explained that the trip had shown them what the Wish Ambulance can make possible: "When someone is at the end of life and can't get out of bed or travel on their own, it feels like all options have gone. You feel helpless. But the Wish Ambulance makes what seems impossible, possible.

“We are so grateful that The Wish Ambulance and its wonderful voluntary crew took us to the beach as a family. They got our Mum there on a wheeled stretcher, she stared out at the sea, smiled at the coloured houses and laughed at the seagulls. She enjoyed fish and chips, and whippy ice cream and spent time at the beach with her children in Tenby.

“All her final wish boxes were ticked and it was one of most beautiful days of all our lives and of course the hardest, knowing it was our last trip together. We will never be able to express what it meant to us that 'The Wish Ambulance' and the two crew members Emma Eatwell and Robert Lineham volunteered to help us that day. They were our last hope and they exceeded our expectations in helping us achieve this for our Mum.”

Emma was reunited with Gemma and Matthew when they presented a cheque with their fundraising total on so far to the charity.

Wish Ambulance.
(Provided)

Emergency Medical Technician, Emma Eatwell said: “I volunteered for the Wish Ambulance because it is just such a lovely thing to be able to do for families. To be able to participate and to allow them to have a nice final day of creating memories. It brings a lump to the throat to talk to about it, but it has been an absolute privilege to have been a part of it.”

Delivered entirely by WAST staff who volunteer their time, the Wish Ambulance is run by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust and is supported entirely by volunteers and by charitable funding. The money the siblings have raised will enable The Wish Ambulance to help more people nearing the end of their lives to have one last wish fulfilled, helping them make a safe, meaningful journey to a place that matters to them.

Gemma and Matthew commented on how proud their mum would be of them and it brings them comfort to know she continues to help others even though she is no longer with them.

If you would like to make a donation to The Wish Ambulance, please visit: