10:00am Sunday 29th November 2009
By Faith Eckersall
THE Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance celebrates its 10th birthday next year and plans are already in hand to make sure the event is an occasion to remember.
The charity wants as many people as possible from the 7,000 families it has assisted since it first took to the skies to join in a special party in June at its airbase in Henstridge, Somerset.
Charity manager Charlotte Routley said: “It may seem a bit bizarre, but unless patients get in touch and tell us who they are, we don’t have any record of them!
“A lot of people do though and many of them help to raise funds for us or volunteer their time because, although we provide a vital lifesaving emergency service to the community, the government does not give us any grants at all.”
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance needs to raise more than £3,800 a day to keep the helicopter flying and so far this year it has been to more than 700 emergencies across the two counties.
In many of these instances, says Charlotte, the use of the helicopter has saved the casualty’s life. “Our celebration on June 12, 2010, will be made extra special if we can share it with some of those that have experienced our service first hand,” she said.
In anticipation of its birthday, the service highlighting the importance of people supporting its weekly Flight for Life lottery.
Since its inception in December 2000 the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Lottery has raised an amazing £7 million from its 27,000 members. Each lottery entry costs just £1 and all the proceeds go direct to the air ambulance.
The charity’s lottery manager, Gareth Williams, said: “The Flight for Life lottery is a sustainable income for us and it would be challenging to maintain the air ambulance service without its continued growth.”
To join the party or lottery, go to the website, dorsetandsomerset-airambulance.org.uk, email lottery@dsaaffl.force9.co.uk or call 01823 669604.
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