Midlands Air Ambulance Charity celebrates 'Air30' 30th anniversary
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2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the rapid response, pre-hospital emergency service provided by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, which provides cover to critically ill and injured patients in the Cotswolds. Since 1991, the charity has saved thousands of lives with missions increasing by 25 per cent since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Series of activities to commemorate 30 years of providing advanced pre-hospital emergency care
Community donations to the charity have dropped by 50 per cent due to the continuing Covid-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of fundraising events and the closing of the charity?s five high street shops.
However, throughout 2021, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is determined to keep funds coming in. The charity is running a series of activities to commemorate 30 years of providing advanced pre-hospital emergency care across Gloucestershire and the Midlands.
Average of two missions a week in Gloucestershire
The local, lifesaving charity currently launches an average of two missions a week in Gloucestershire, to help critically ill and injured patients across the Northern part of the county, including the Cotswolds. The types of incidents attended include cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions and falls, amongst others.
As one of the first air ambulance services in the country, named 'Air5' with just one helicopter flying out of a temporary airbase five days a week, Midlands Air Ambulance is proud of its heritage. The charity now has three helicopters and two critical care cars serving a population of six million people, and to date the service has responded to more than 63,000 missions. The critical care paramedics and doctors support land ambulance crews by bringing advanced skills, medicines and equipment to the incident scene, giving those critically ill and injured the best possible chance of survival and recovery.
30 ways Cotswold residents and businesses can support this life-saving service
Here are 30 ways in which local people and businesses located in the Cotswolds can support the lifesaving service:
| 1 | Legacies 1 leave a Gift in your Will. |
| 2 | Lifesaving Lottery - Take part in the charity Lottery with weekly prizes up for grabs. |
| 3 | Become a corporate partner. |
| 4 | Regular Giving - set up a donation for the charity to receive on a regular basis. |
| 5 | Community - get in touch with the charity?s team of regional fundraising executives and see how you can make a lifesaving difference in your local area. |
| 6 | Volunteer your time in one of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity shops or at one of our fundraising events. |
| 7 | Grants and Trusts - the charity is inviting grant giving organisations to find out more about the charity's special clinical projects and how funding will bring these advances to fruition. |
| 8 | Donate your unwanted goods to one of the five charity shops. |
| 9 | Alternatively, visit one of the high street stores and make a mission possible when you make a purchase. |
| 10 | Education Programme (Sky Champs) - let your local school know about the charity's educational resources, created in line with the National Curriculum. |
| 11 | Make a donation in memory of a relative, friend or pet. |
| 12 | Get involved online and make a donation at midlandsairambulance.com/donatenow |
| 13 | Abseil down a local landmark and raise money through sponsorship. |
| 14 | Take part in the much-loved Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival. |
| 15 | Pound the Bounds by participating in the annual Walk4Life event. |
| 16 | Attend the Recognition Awards and Charity Ball and celebrate Midlands Air Ambulance Charity in style. |
| 17 | Network at one of the charity's corporate events. |
| 18 | Sky Dive - raise money for the charity as you fly high through the sky. |
| 19 | Community events - head along to one of the charity?s events, such as the annual airbase open days. |
| 20 | Kids Crew Club Membership - sign your little one up to be the latest recruit to the charity's Kids Crew - membership comes with an official certificate, welcome letter from the aircrew, invitation to next year's Young Heroes Christmas Party and a voucher to redeem a free visit at one of the charity?s three operational airbases (COVID permitting). |
| 21 | Text to donate: MissionPossible (as one word) and the amount of your choice to 70085. |
| 22 | Memory Bear - watch this space, launching on midlandsairambulance.com/shop later in the year. |
| 23 | Purchase limited edition Air30 inspired cufflinks launching with Deakin & Francis in February 2021. |
| 24 | Gift Aid - choose to add Gift Aid to your donation, with no extra cost to you, we can receive more money from the Government on your donation. |
| 25 | Use AmazonSmile and Give as you Live when making purchases - a donation is made to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity at no cost to you. |
| 26 | Purchase your breakdown cover with the RAC, and £25 will be donated. Visit www.rac.co.uk/uk-join/maac |
| 27 | Save money and lives with The Tipton & Coseley Building Society's 30-Day Notice Savings Account, which donates to Midlands Air Ambulance Charity at no cost to you. Visit www.thetipton.co.uk/our-savings/savings-accounts/midlands-air-ambulance-saver/30-day-notice-midlands-air-ambulance-saver |
| 28 | Sign up to the mailing list to receive lifesaving service updates. Simply email [email protected] with your details. |
| 29 | Follow the organisation on social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. |
| 30 | Sign up to Payroll Giving, a quick and simple way to support the charity through your salary. Visit www.midlandsairambulance.com/payroll-giving |
Find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity and follow the organisation on social media.
Last updated: 30 July 2024 - Please note: This blog was first written over a year old and things may have changed since the blog was written.
