Air Ambulance News
Apr 20
Join our Walk!
Posted by: Danielthomas, 20 April 2012
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is delighted to announce the third Great Western Walk at Ashton Court in Bristol on May 13.
Each year men, women and children gather to walk three, five or eight mile planned routes raising money for the charity – and this year promises to be the biggest.
Anyone signing up for this year’s Great Western Walk will get a free T-shirt, branded water bottle as well as a comprehensive route map through 850 acres of historic woodland.
Click on the link below for a downloadable application form
walk_leaflet_template_side_2.pdf
Air ambulances in England & Wales are paid for by charity donations. GWAAC pay for this region’s medical helicopter, and must raise £1.3m each year to stay in the air.
GWAAC fundraising manager Patricia Gaitan said: “There’s always a great turnout at the Great Western Walk because it’s a fantastic day out.
“But I know from experience just how amazingly few people know their helicopter is paid for by charity donations – and is not funded by the NHS.
“We’d love that to change, and for the people of this region to show their support for their local air ambulance.
“Remember that one on five of our most critical missions saves a life which would otherwise be lost.”
If you can't download the application form above do call us 0303 4444 999 or email walk@greatwesternairambulance.com and we'll send you one.
Apr 05
The Running Man
Posted by: Danielthomas, 05 April 2012
GREAT Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) would like to say a massive “good luck” to Richard Riley who will attempt to run a huge 36 miles on our behalf.
Picture courtesy of the Somerset Standard
Richard, 49, was accidentally struck down while jogging near Frome on August 28 last year.
The GWAAC helicopter flew from its Filton base to Friggle Street, where the incident occurred on August 28 last year.
Richard says when he regained consciousness at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol medical staff told him the intervention of the helicopter team had probably saved his life.
To help support the charity Richard is running the distance the air ambulance flew that day on a treadmill at Frome Leisure Centre on May 14.
He said: “I’m apprehensive. I’ve never run that far before. I’m going to easily burn up 6,000 calories. “But GWAAC are a fantastic organisation and I want to do something to support them.”
Richard will be supported by friends who will run alongside him for 10km stretches.
He will also be running the BUPA London 10,000 for GWAAC.
Anyone who wants to support Richard can visit www.56point8.com.
Mar 19
New sight in the sky
Posted by: Danielthomas, 19 March 2012
PRESS RELEASE
EVERYONE living in the West will have a new sight in the sky.
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has rebranded their aircraft with a new heartbeat signal design.
It replaces the old decoration, which was simply a small charity logo written over the doors and airframe.
The artwork was crafted by Oxford design firm Studio Moko and attached to the charity aircraft last week by Bond Air Services.
The new design will now be seen pulsing in the skies above Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire.
GWAAC spokesman Daniel Thomas said: “We wanted to leave people in absolutely no doubt that we are your air ambulance. I’d say we’ve achieved that.
“The design looks great. Although one of the medical team did point out that the heartbeat is backwards on one side!
“I think, considering the potential expense of getting it all re-done, we’re all going to have to see the funny side on that one.”
In 2011 the helicopter flew out on about 600 missions – almost two a day – and the charity expect that figure to be much higher in 2012.
Many more Critical Care missions were carried out by Rapid Response Vehicle.
It is estimated one in every five of the most critical missions will result in a life being saved.
GWAAC chief executive John Christensen said: “When people saw the green and blue helicopter they could be pretty sure it was their air ambulance. Now they can be absolutely certain.
“It costs the charity about £600 every time the helicopter goes out on a mission, so we want everyone to know we’re doing it – for them and their community.”
Bond carried out printing services without charge to the charity, for which the charity is very grateful.
Mar 19
Pink Kitten Cabaret
Posted by: Danielthomas, 19 March 2012
PINK Kitten Cabaret are holding a cabaret night on Friday 23rd March, with funds raised going to Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.
So there will be just enough time to recover from race week and donate some winnings to an extremely good cause whilst having a fantastic evening!
The event is 8-11pm at Boogie Lounge, Cheltenham with an after party till 3am.
It will feature performances from The Pink Kitten Dance School in a variety of dance styles including Can Can and Charleston as well as a DJ and mini workshop towards the end of the night for anyone who wants to have a go themselves!
Date: Friday 23rd March 2012 Venue: Boogie Lounge Location: Cheltenham Doors: 20:00 til 23:00
http://www.skiddle.com/events/11612416/
Feb 29
AOAC Charity Ball
Posted by: Danielthomas, 29 February 2012
AVON Outdoor Activities Club will be holding their Spring Ball on 17 March at Bristol's award-winning M-Shed, with all proceeds going to GWAAC, we are delighted to confirm.
For a bargain £45 you'll enjoy a three course dinner, a five piece rock ‘n’ roll band and disco until late.
And an exclusive cabaret performance by one of the UK’s Ceroc dance champions will really get the party off with a swing.
Raffle tickets are £1 each and are being sold at AOAC events leading up to the ball.
If you’d like to donate a raffle prize or help sell raffle tickets to your friends & work colleagues, please let Ali Hobbs from the AVAC know at ball2012@aoac.co.uk
• 1ST PRIZE - Hot Air Balloon flight for 2 people - Rotork
• Pacific Outdoor Ether Thermo Sleeping Mat - Cotswold Outdoor
• 2 x Tickets for the Watershed
• 2 x Tickets a Wilderness lecture
• Family membership to the YHA
• Family photo shoot & a photo shoot with a makeover session – Clifton Photographers
• Vouchers for dinner for 2 at splendid restaurants & eateries in & around Bristol
• & many more
Jan 25
Holiday for GWAAC Lotto winner!
Posted by: Danielthomas, 25 January 2012
THIS week's delighted GWAAC lottery winners will be able to go on holiday this year thanks to their £1,000 windfall.
Christine and David Mills, from Lechlade, Gloucs., will be visiting Inverness in Scotland to stay with one of Christine's cousins.
The couple were thinking they may have to cancel this year's holiday, as things were getting a bit tight. But the win has changed all that.
Chrisine said: "We're only pensioners, so it's a bit of a job sometimes.
"My cousin Peter lives in Scotland and we thought we would go up and see him again this year. We couldn't afford it last year."
The pair plan to visit later in the year.
Retired security guard David added: "We never win anything. It's made our day!"
Jan 23
Calling all runners
Posted by: Danielthomas, 23 January 2012
GREAT Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) have 20 “Golden Tickets” for the 2012 Bupa London 10,000 – and seek champions to claim them.
The super-popular race, run through the heart of Westminster, was sold out by Christmas. It will take place on Sunday, May 27.
The BUPA 10,000 is the official UK 10k championships. Last year Paula Radcliffe, Mo Farrah and Jo Pavey all competed.
To claim charity tickets, champions must show they are capable of completing the run and commit to raising no less than £350 in sponsorship.
In return, champions will get free tickets – worth £25 – and free high quality running and training gear.
Ian Leitch, 36, from Kentish Town in north London was the first to sign up to run for the charity.
Ian, an IT specialist, has previously cycled the 16,500 miles from Argentina to Alaska, and aims to be in the top 20 and raise at least £500.
He said: “I’ve done lots of outdoor sports over the years, and some of them can get you into difficulties and an air ambulance is a life-saver.
“You shouldn’t take risks, but if people are pushing their limits it’s good to know there’s a final back-up plan.”
Ian will be racing against 450 top-end athletes, as well as about 10,500 fun runners.
Charity chief executive John Christensen said: “These really are the Golden Tickets for anyone who takes their running seriously.
“It’s also the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself to raise as much for Great Western Air Ambulance Charity as possible.
“There’s going to be an amazing competition, on a great day and we want the best from our region to be racing in our colours.” ENDS
Notes for editors
GWAAC is a charity which needs to raise no less than £1.3m each year to stay in the air.
The GWAAC helicopter goes out on approximately 1,400 missions a year. It is estimated that one in five people who would otherwise have died are saved by the actions of the GWAAC clinical team
All donations raised within the Great Western area will fund the aircraft in this region, including Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
For further information contact:
Daniel Thomas I Media and PR Officer I M 07929 164378 daniel.thomas@greatwesternairambulance.com www.greatwesternairambulance.com
Jan 20
The Masons's Alms
Posted by: Danielthomas, 20 January 2012
A BELATED "thank you" to Roger Poynton and the Somerset Freemasons for their fantastic gift of £2,000.
Roger visited the base in early December and was given a tour of the aircraft by long-time pilot John Rigby.
The Somerset Masonic Charity gave £1,000, which matched by a further £1,000 from the Freemasons' Grand Charity.
This is in addition to the many thousands donated to Great Western Air Ambulance Charity by the Freemasons annually.
Roger said: "I was very impressed with what I saw and learnt on my visit. I shall certainly encourage Lodges to consider grant aiding your charity from their own funds."
Jan 06
Gift of Diamonds
Posted by: Danielthomas, 06 January 2012
A COUPLE celebrated 60 years of marriage by asking for donations to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity.
We at GWAAC were very touched by Roy and Joyce Young's generous gift, and pleased to invite them to visit the base.
Roy, 85, and Joyce, 80, celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in September.
Because Roy's brother had been transported by one of our sister services, they asked for donations to GWAAC to mark the occasion.
They were able to raise a fantastic £600. They visited Filton in December when the cheque was handed over in very wet and very windy conditions!
The couple were born and lived on the Isle of Wight. They met because Roy was the brother of Joyce’s best friend.
They moved to Peasedown St. John in Somerset three years ago to live near their daughter Sharyn.
During the war Roy was called up to be a Bevin Boy in the coal mines in Newcastle, working for the Southern Electric Board for 43 years. Joyce worked on a farm before raising two daughters.
Dec 20
Leaping from aircraft now "a good thing"
Posted by: Danielthomas, 20 December 2011
WE at the GWAAC HQ would all like to tip our hats to Cordelia Nolan, who successfully leaped from a perfectly good light aircraft over Swindon.
By great good fortune Cordelia was strapped to a gentleman named Matt Thomas, who was himself strapped to a parachute.
By virtue of surviving the jump Cordelia raised a whopping £1,400 for the charity.
Cordelia, from Westbury-on-Trym in Bristol hit the headlines in January 2009 when she heroically saved her baby’s life four times.
Ten week old son Emrys had stopped breathing and Cordelia was the only person on hand to revive him before an ambulance crew could arrive.
Now a healthy three-year-old, Emrys was at the landing site on November 6 to see his mum's fundraising descent.
Cordelia said: "It was terrifying because I hate heights. I was very nervous so I just sat on the guy's lap and waited.
"Once the parachute was open, and I realised I wasn't going to die, I started to enjoy it."
The first person to greet her at the landing site was son Emrys who said: "Well done Mummy".
Cordelia added: "One elderly lady sponsored me for £250, and I don't know her at all. That was very touching.
"It have me the spur to go on and do it."
