CORNWALL AIR AMBULANCE

In 2020, around 14% of airlifted patients were visitors to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 81 adults and 16 children had a flight they didn’t plan to take while on their holidays. Yet less than 5% of donations to the charity come from the tourism sector. With visitor missions costing nearly half a million pounds each year, the charity is engaging with local visitor resorts and attractions to try and bridge this fundraising gap. Interim CEO of Cornwall Air Ambulance, Steve Murdoch, Raising over £9k, says: “While four out of five that’s over 4,000 patients are local people, it is true that one fifth of the holiday-makers who incidents we attend are to help seriously sick and injured donated! visitors. We need to work in collaboration with tourism businesses across Cornwall to meet the increased cost of trying to save lives when things go horribly wrong for people on holiday. “It’s a win-win for all parties, for the businesses who work with us, the patients whose lives could be saved and for the charity to continue flying to those in need.”

Paul Crutchley was one day into his family holiday in Hayle when he became seriously unwell. What started as a fun trip to the beach, ended with a ride in the air ambulance. Paul says: “My family and I had travelled from South Wales to Riviera Sands Holiday Park the day before and we were looking forward to another great holiday break at our favourite place. We planned a nice relaxing day on the beach and the weather was amazing. I had been for a swim and was standing in the sea watching my two sons, Ellis and Evan, playing. We were all relaxed and enjoying the nice time after a hard year. “My wife Lindsay joined me when I suddenly felt strange. I turned to say I was going to sit down for a while but did not get the chance. The next thing I can remember is coming round face down in the water.”

Lindsay raised the alarm with RNLI lifeguards who came to assist and called for the ambulance service. With suspected cardiac-related issues, Cornwall Air Ambulance was tasked to the scene. The helicopter landed nearby on the beach. Critical care paramedics from Cornwall Air Ambulance assessed Paul, before transferring him to the helicopter. He was flown to Royal Cornwall Hospital - a journey which took just ten minutes by air. “The air ambulance was amazing at getting me off the beach fast, which would have been very hard due to the terrain and the fact I am no small lump,” says Paul. “I am on the mend thanks to all the people who helped me and my family that day.” Paul is planning to return to Hayle in the future for another holiday and hopes to meet the crew who helped him.

The charity is asking tourism businesses to support them by highlighting the value and importance of Cornwall Air Ambulance to their visitors. There are so many ways in which you can do that:

• Offer visitors the option to add-on a donation when booking. • Donate £1 for every new booking or a percentage of your sales. • Place donation envelopes within your business • Host a collection jar in your reception and guest areas. • Hold a fundraising event using your facilities. • Display Cornwall Air Ambulance posters and other materials • Encourage your staff to take on a charity event by paying their registration fee

Whatever way your business chooses to support the charity, there are a whole host of benefits you will receive from the collaboration.

• Tourism Business Supporter brand stamp to display in your business and online. • Brand association with one of

Cornwall’s best-known charities • Dedicated fundraising and marketing support including social media promotion and press releases. • The opportunity for you to visit

Cornwall Air Ambulance HQ

The Greenbank & The Alverton Hotels Ben Young, Managing Director of the Greenbank and Alverton Hotels said: “In 2019, we chose Cornwall Air Ambulance as our charity of the year, alongside our sister hotel The Alverton. We pledged to raise £10,000 for the charity from each hotel, and happily we surpassed this amount through continuous fundraising and events. From team skydives to pub quizzes, charity auctions, and generous guest donations, we managed to exceed £34,000 in total!

Cornish Horizons Harriet Wills, Marketing Manager at Cornish Horizons, said: “When we met the Cornwall Air Ambulance team we were in complete awe of the amazing work carried out by the charity and wanted to help raise some of the money it needs. We asked our customers to add £2 to the payment of their holiday so that we can pass on, in full, the total donation. We initially hoped to raise £3.5k, but it ended up raising over £9k, that’s over 4,000 holiday-makers who donated!” To pledge your support to Cornwall Air Ambulance and ensure this vital service continues to save lives in Cornwall, please get in touch with the team by emailing fundraising@ cornwallairambulancetrust.org or calling 01637 889926. It’s a win-win for all parties, for the businesses who work with us, the patients whose lives could be saved and for the charity to continue flying to those in need.