Pave Aways has funded four lifesaving missions by the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity after handing over a £10,000 donation.
The cash was raised by staff through a series of fundraising activities including a gruelling 84-mile ‘safari’ dressed in animal costumes along the Shropshire Way and a 70-mile bike ride around north Shropshire. They also generously donated a percentage of their day’s wage during the company’s annual away day to the air ambulance.
Business Development Director Paul Moran made the presentation during a visit to one of the charity’s three airbases, RAF Cosford, to see how the donation would be of benefit.
“Working on building sites all over Shropshire, Mid Wales and the Midlands, we often see their distinctive helicopters flying overhead as they attend lifesaving missions,” he said.
“It was fascinating to learn how highly skilled the medical team are and how the treatment they deliver can be the difference between life and death for patients.
“It costs £2,500 to fund just one mission and the charity receives no Government or National Lottery funding for its daily missions, so every penny makes a difference. As a team we are delighted to have been able to contribute to the incredible work they do,” added Paul.
Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: “Every year we need to raise in excess of £9 million a year to fund our fleet of air ambulances and emergency vehicles.
“It’s thanks to donations from our corporate partners like Pave Aways that help boost that figure and £10,000 will fund four of our missions.”
To find out more about the lifesaving work that the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity does, visit: www.midlandsairambulance.com
Facts:
- Midlands Air Ambulance Charity serves the largest air ambulance region in the UK. This includes the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire; representing a population in excess of 6 million.
- Since flying its first mission in 1991, the charity has now responded to over 50,000 incidents, averaging 2,000 missions each year. This makes Midlands Air Ambulance Charity one of the longest established and busiest air ambulance operators in the UK.
- Each year it costs in excess of £9 million to maintain the three aircraft and the provision of a life saving service. Each air ambulance mission costs an average of £2,500. The charity receives no funding from the Government or National Lottery so relies entirely on the support and generosity of local people and businesses.
- The Golden Hour – if a patient reaches hospital within 60 minutes of injury, their chances of survival are dramatically increased. All areas of the region are accessible in 19 minutes and 90% of the region is accessible within eight minutes.