Last season community department manager Mike Sage was approached by Gareth Bailey who requested to have a bucket collection on behalf of Wales Air Ambulance (WAA) who receive no funding whatsoever. His reasons were both sad and touching, Gaz as he is known was involved in a dreadful smash whilst riding his mountain bike in the Neath Valley. He suffered a broken neck, dislocated shoulder along with some broken ribs and the WAA airlifted Gaz to hospital in Cardiff where he underwent several procedures and operations to bring him back to full health.
Mike read the harrowing account and immediately granted the application and the WAA collection team turned out at the final fixture of the season against Treviso and impressively collected almost £500.
But Gaz was not easily satisfied and he went on to organise, arrange and compete in a 500km cycle challenge from North to South Wales and visiting all of the WAA bases. During this challenge Mike arranged for the Dragons to be supportive partners giving his attempt a much needed sporting and media boost, with donations of kit, water and raffle prizes.
The challenge was an unmitigated success with a team of 15 raising over 17K culminating in the final stretch back into Rodney Parade thus giving further evidence of not only Gaz’s successful recovery but also his determination to show how grateful he was for all those involved.
Gaz was so grateful for the support of the Dragons and their busy community team that he vowed that he would repay them for their support and kindness. So as the kids started to pour through the gates at Rodney Parade for the first of the skills camps a familiar figure appeared with them, and Gaz had turned up as a volunteer, taking three days leave from his workplace, to keep his promise to help the community team delivering the first class skills programme to the youngsters.
What a terrific story, and what a terrific guy and maybe even modestly we can say what a terrific community department!
