Hats off to Hilary, five years of fundraising for our lifesaving Charity
Friday, 09 January 2026
A woman from Wroughton near Swindon has turned a simple idea into five years of colour, conversation and community spirit, all in support of Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity.
Hilary Fleming has worn a different hat every day for the past five years, a joyful challenge that has so far raised £5,000 to support our lifesaving work across Wiltshire and Bath.
Hilary’s motivation is deeply personal. Our crew came to the aid of her husband Shaun on two occasions, once in 2013 and again in 2014, after he fell from a ladder and needed urgent critical care.
Reflecting on why she began the challenge, Hilary said our team “got him to hospital quickly and basically saved his life. So as a payback I try and raise money”.
Since starting her fundraiser, Hilary has worn an incredible 1,825 different hats, from bright sunhats to playful novelty designs. Many have been donated by friends, supporters and her husband, while others have been sold on to raise even more funds. Hilary also explained, “I'm actually going to be sad to stop this. I am. I was debating whether to keep going, but I'm actually moving away from the area soon, so it seemed like a good time, but I'll keep supporting the air ambulance. They are amazing.”
A retired NHS podiatrist, Hilary combines her hats with what she calls “hatsercise”, wearing each one for half an hour while out walking. Along the way, her colourful headwear has sparked smiles, laughter and countless conversations.
“If I’m out for a walk and I’ve got a silly hat, I often get into conversations,” Hilary explained. “I’ve met so many people who have used the air ambulance who want to tell their story. It’s raising awareness and also giving people a chance to have a chat and also just have a laugh.”
We are incredibly grateful to Hilary for her creativity, dedication and determination. Support like hers helps us continue to be there for patients when every minute matters.
Last year alone, our crew were called to 1,343 incidents, with doctors onboard for over half of those missions. Behind every callout is a person, a family and a community who needs us at their most critical moment.
To mark five years of her inspiring fundraiser on 8 January, Hilary visited our airbase to celebrate the milestone with the team she continues to support.
Why volunteers matter
Hilary’s story is a reminder that our charity is built on the kindness and commitment of people in our community. Volunteers play a vital role in keeping Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity running, from supporting us at events and helping with collections, to representing us out and about as our much-loved mascots, Wilber and Marsha.
Our community team leader, Sam Conway, said, “Our volunteers are paramount to our charity and the work we do. We couldn't continue our critical work without their help, and Hilary's passion and creativity has inspired us at the airbase and in the community. Hilary has not just been raising vital funds for the Charity, but also getting the awareness out there for everybody to know exactly what we do, who we are and where we are.”
Get involved
Whether you want to volunteer your time, take on a fun challenge like Hilary’s, or support us in another way, there are so many opportunities to make a real difference.
By volunteering with Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity, you become part of a community that helps save lives every day.
Together, with inspiring supporters like Hilary, we can continue going above and beyond for our communities.
Find out how you can get involved and volunteer with us below!
