Fundraising campaign lifts off at show

Jun 6 2008 Chester Chronicle

NORTH West Air Ambulance Service is getting its campaign to launch a second helicopter off to a ‘flying’ start at this year’s Cheshire County Show.

The service has committed to a second helicopter to cover Cheshire and South Manchester, but needs to raise £3.3m a year to keep the two aircraft airborne for one year.

As the Air Ambulance offers a lifeline to rural and agricultural areas, it has chosen the Cheshire County Show on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 17 and 18, as the first event to launch its fundraising campaign.

Currently there is one Air Ambulance helicopter, based at Blackpool Airport, serving 7.5 million people across a 5,500 sq mile-area of Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.

Community fundraiser for North West Air Ambulance, Emily Taylor, said: “It is hoped that visitors to this year’s Cheshire Show will lend their support to the service.

“Each year we are called out to a range of emergencies in rural areas of Cheshire, including farming, horse riding and walking accidents, sporting injuries and road traffic incidents so hopefully everyone will be supportive of our campaign.”

It is hoped to have a second helicopter operational by August of this year.

The Cheshire County Show will take place at the Tabley Showground near Knutsford.

Advanced tickets are available by calling the 24-hour hotline on 0845 1249822 or from most Cheshire County Council libraries.

For more information visit www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk