AN AMBULANCE service choir is raising money for a charity close to their hearts with their new single.

Welsh Ambulance Service staff from across Wales have teamed up to create their virtual choir and will be raising money for The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC) with single You Will Be Found from hit musical and soon-to-be film Dear Evan Hansen.

It was chosen by Mads Matthews-Williams for the message of hope and emotional support.

Ms Matthews-Williams works as a medical priority dispatch system auditor in Carmarthen and said: “Sometimes as ambulance people we forget we may need help ourselves and always try to be the strong one.

“Myself and other members of the choir have been supported by TASC in the past and they really do make you feel less alone.

“Two of our members have even been trained as counsellors by TASC and volunteer as peer support workers.”

On the song choice, she said: “I love the musical and this song stood out as a good message about reaching out.

“It’s positive and uplifting and many of us are feeling a bit isolated as we come out of lockdown.”

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One of the choir members, Alan Griffiths – a non-emergency patient transport team leader from Pontardawe – came out of choir retirement to join. He said: “I just wanted to sing again, having previously been in a choir.

“It was nice to sing again, and hopefully one day I’ll do it again without the need to be on a screen.”

NHS 111 Wales service clinical advisor Gemma Tavill said: “The lyrics of the song hit home with myself and I know they will with family.

“Growing up I was always in choirs and wanted to join in and feel part of a team other than a work team again.”

The choir is asking if people can consider making a donation of what they can afford through the JustGiving page here.

TASC’s director of income generation and supporter engagement, Jasmin Rana, said: “Ambulance staff have one of the most stressful jobs in the UK, and the continuing and long-term impacts of Coronavirus are making their job that much harder.

“At TASC, we’re passionate about supporting the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community, but we can’t do it alone.

“We’re so grateful that the Welsh Ambulance Choir have chosen to support TASC and raise vital funds for our cause; demand for our services is growing year-on-year and with support of people like Mads, Alan and Gemma, we can continue being there for the UK’s lifesavers when they’re struggling for years to come.”

Dear Evan Hansen debuted in 2016, winning three Olivier awards in 2020. It was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul – the team behind The Greatest Showman.