DORSET employer Ageas is boosting the county’s air ambulance along with others around the country after staff chose to support them with a year of fundraising.

The Ageas charity committee decided to back Air Ambulances UK, the national organisation supporting all 21 regional air ambulance charities including the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

The insurer, which has hundreds of staff based at Deansleigh Road in Bournemouth, has made the cause its charity partner for 2022.

Air ambulances bring the emergency department to patients who have suffered a life-threatening or life-changing trauma or medical emergency. On average, air ambulances can reach those in urgent need within 15 minutes.

One Bournemouth employee of Ageas, Linda McKay, said the cause was particularly close to her heart.

She said: “When I was 14, I was on a five-day horse riding school trip in Brecon Beacons in Wales.

“Halfway through the holiday while cantering through the Beacons I was thrown from my horse. I don’t really remember much as I was in and out of consciousness but due to the location and on a mountain, they had to call the air ambulance.

“The air ambulance crew were amazing and explained everything to me, which immediately put me at ease and their calm confidence in explaining what they were doing and what would happen gave me the reassurance I needed.

“After a CT scan, the doctors confirmed I was fine, just lots of bruising but no serious damage.

“Their care and attention has stayed with me for all these years and I’m really delighted that Air Ambulances UK will be Ageas’s charity partner for 2022.

“It’s great to be able to give back to this brilliant organisation, knowing that the money raised by myself and my colleagues will be used to help someone just like me.”

Ageas employees are planning charity activities for the charity throughout the year.

Ageas has set up a fundraising page at justgiving.com/campaign/Ageas2022