Fly in to save ambulance

As part of National Air Ambulance Week, running between September 22 and 28, the Wiltshire branch, based in Devizes, wants schools and workplaces across the region to don the costumes of their favourite superheroes and collect funds for the charity.

Everyone who dresses as a superhero is asked to donate £1 with those taking part encouraged to organise more superhero themed fundraising events.

Schools taking part in a ‘Who Is Your Hero Day’ festivities will also be entered into a prize draw to receive a visit from Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s new helicopter which will be mobile next year.

Rebecca de la Bedoyere, Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s fundraising manager, said: “Air Ambulance Week is a chance for people to get involved with something fun and help raise funds to keep us flying and saving lives. We’ve chosen the hero theme because the people we airlift often say our crews are heroes.

“The unsung heroes are our amazing survivors, our fantastic volunteers and the people of Wiltshire who fundraise tirelessly to keep this vital service running. During Air Ambulance Week we’d love as many people as possible from across Wiltshire to join us in dressing like a superhero, like their real-life hero, or like a member of the emergency services.

“The more imaginative the better, and all proceeds raised will help pay for a day.”

Wiltshire Air Ambulance is attempting to raise £6,850 every day for seven days during Air Ambulance Week as this is how much it will cost to keep the air ambulance flying each day once its partnership with Wiltshire Police ends this year.

The partnership saw the police provide some funding to help keep the helicopter in the sky.

From December, when the police funding is withdrawn, it will cost £2.5m a year to keep Wiltshire Air Ambulance going. The charity receives no government or national lottery funding.

l To find out more about the superheroes event visit www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk