22/01/2026
Dear All
Please excuse me addressing it to all, but time is of the essence , my name is Colin McGivern, Managing Director of Events Medical Team – Saltney Ltd, a North Wales–based emergency medical and welfare provider working daily with families, vulnerable people and those facing moments of crisis.
Today I am writing not only in a professional capacity, but as a dad and grandad, a member of this community, and someone who has seen first-hand just how fragile life can be. I am asking for your support for a local family now living through every parent’s worst nightmare.
Rupert Smith is just seven months old.
At an age when he should be learning to smile, sit up and recognise his parents’ voices, Rupert is instead battling a rare and devastating neurological condition called Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC). This condition causes sudden episodes of paralysis, breathing failure and seizures. It is unpredictable, cruel and, in some cases, fatal. There is no cure.
On Monday, while visiting Broughton Park in Flintshire, Rupert suffered another catastrophic episode. His tiny body shut down. He stopped breathing. In that moment, his mother was forced to perform CPR on her own baby, desperately trying to keep her son alive until help arrived. Few things in life are more harrowing than watching your child fight for breath in your arms.
Because of the seriousness of his condition, the Wales Air Ambulance was deployed, and Rupert was airlifted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, one of the UK’s leading specialist paediatric centres, where doctors worked urgently to stabilise him.
Rupert’s father is Sergeant Dave Smith, a local lad who lives and works in our community as a serving officer with North Wales Police. Dave was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in HM The King’s New Year Honours List 2025 for his outstanding service to the community and to charity. He is also the founder of Wrexham Police FC, which has raised over £70,000 for local hospitals, mental health charities and families in crisis across North Wales.
Dave has spent years helping others. Now his own child’s life hangs in the balance.
This family lives every day not knowing when the next emergency will strike.
Funds raised through the Rupert’s Rainbow AHC Appeal will help provide:
Specialist paediatric and neurological care
Emergency and life-saving medical equipment
Travel and accommodation for specialist hospital visits
Home adaptations and monitoring equipment to keep Rupert safe
Local businesses, community groups and individuals have already stepped forward. Events Medical Team – Saltney Ltd has proudly made Rupert’s appeal our Charity of the Year, and further fundraising events are now being organised — but we cannot do this alone.
We respectfully ask whether your organisation would consider:
A donation to the crowdfunding appeal
Or the donation of auction or raffle prizes for a formal fundraising evening
Every contribution, no matter the size, directly helps keep a little boy alive and gives his parents something every family deserves — hope.
Donations can be made here:
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ruperts-rainbowahc
We would be honoured to acknowledge any support publicly, where appropriate.
Thank you for taking the time to read Rupert’s story and for standing with this family in their darkest hour.
Yours sincerely,
Colin McGivern
Managing Director
Events Medical Team - Saltney Ltd
17 Belgrave Ave,
Saltney,
Flintshire
North Wales
CH4 8TY
Email: info@events medicalteam.com
admin@eventsmedicalteam.com
colin@eventsmedicalteam.com
Tel: 07944 620032
01244 659527
08000 459078
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Mae’r e-bost hwn ac unrhyw atodiadau yn gyfrinachol ac wedi’u bwriadu’n unig ar gyfer yr unigolyn neu’r sefydliad y maent wedi’u cyfeirio ato. Os ydych wedi derbyn yr e-bost hwn drwy gamgymeriad, rhowch wybod i’r anfonwr ar unwaith a dilëwch ef o’ch system. Gwaherddir unrhyw ddatgeliad, copïo neu ddosbarthu heb awdurdod. Barn yr awdur yw’r safbwyntiau a fynegir yn y cyfathrebiad hwn ac nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli barn Events Medical Team – Saltney Ltd. Er bod pob ymdrech resymol wedi’i gwneud i sicrhau bod yr e-bost hwn yn rhydd o feirysau, ni dderbynnir unrhyw gyfrifoldeb am unrhyw golled neu ddifrod sy’n deillio o’i ddefnydd.
Iʼm raising money to support Rupert’s Rainbow . Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.
