Anglia Lift Off Autumn 2014 Issue 36

ANGLIA

LIFTOFF

ISSUE 36 AUTUMN 2014

Suggested donation £1.50

ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT

IN THE SADDLE

TIME FOR TEA

Prince William to be EAAA pilot

Ridgeons team’s racecourse fundraiser

Anniversary merchandise launched

Page 4

Page 20

Page 18

Air ambulance crews pioneer heart treatment WE NEED YOU TODAY YOU MAY NEED US TOMORROW

CHARITY NO.1083876

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WELCOME ANNIVERSARY YEAR APPROACHES

Since the last issue of ‘Anglia Lift Off’ was published, the charity has been able to confirm the exciting news that His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge is to join our service as a helicopter pilot. Kensington Palace announced in August that The Duke will be taking up a position with Bond Air Services, for whom all our pilots work, and will be joining our crews based at Cambridge and Norwich Airports next year. We are delighted that The Duke of Cambridge has made this choice and we hope you will join us in welcoming him to the organisation.

This news comes as we are already preparing for a momentous year in 2015. Our second night-capable helicopter, which we expect to take delivery of in a matter of months, will go into service. Larger than the EC135, the EC145 will allow us to operate with two pilots on board as well as providing more space for the medical activity and equipment, enabling a longer operating range, while still having room to carry an additional passenger.

It is also the year that we celebrate our 15th anniversary and you can read more about the plans for this on page 18. We’ll be launching a range of special anniversary merchandise to complement our existing merchandise, which we were delighted to find was very well received when we sent out the brochure with our last issue. Thank you if you have placed one of the hundreds of orders already received – but if the summer was a little early to order your cards, we have included details again within this edition.

Many of our achievements over the last 15 years would not have happened as smoothly as they did without the efforts and dedication to the charity of Steve Whitby. Steve had been involved with the organisation since its very early days and became a key member of the senior management team. He retired from the charity in July and we all wish him well in retirement. Another long-standing group of supporters who have been with us for almost all of the last 15 years is our fundraising group in Fakenham and you can read about their latest activities on page 13.

Finally if you received our last issue of the magazine by post you’ll have seen my appeal to help us reduce our costs by downloading ‘Anglia Lift Off’ as an app or by reading it on our website. We had a fantastic response to this and I am very grateful to everyone who has opted to receive the digital version of the magazine and thus save the charity money. If you would like to find out more about this please visit the Lottery section of our website www.eaaa.org.uk.

If you are unable to receive the magazine digitally then we are very happy to continue to send you a copy of Anglia Lift Off with our compliments and thanks for all your support.

CONTENTS The Duke of Cambridge to join us

4

Airlifted Kelly’s ‘hero’ race

5

Award for Dr Tom

6

Diary dates

7

Beet this!

8

Jamie pitches in

10

Lifesaving heart care

11

Bowlathon boosts funds

12

Missions flown

15

Lottery and Draw winners

16

Anniversary merchandise

18

Muddy race challenge

20

Legacies save lives

22

CONTACT US

Your regional fundraiser: North Cambridgeshire/West Norfolk – Chris Donaldson 106 Culley Court, Bakewell Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 6WA. 01733 367208 email: christopher.donaldson@eaaa.org.uk South Cambridgeshire – Barbara McGee Melbourn Science Park, Cambridge Road, Melbourn SG8 6EE. 01763 262697 email: barbara.mcgee@eaaa.org.uk Suffolk – Barbara McGee Whitehouse Distribution Centre, Whitehouse Road, Ipswich IP1 5NX. 01473 745007 email: barbara.mcgee@eaaa.org.uk Norfolk – Amy Franklin Hangar E, Gambling Close, Norwich Airport, Norwich NR6 6EG 01603 489406 email: amy.franklin@eaaa.org.uk Bedfordshire – Kay Marter The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, Bedfordshire MK45 1AH 01525 718517 email: kay.marter@eaaa.org.uk General enquiries: 0845 066 9999 Website: www.eaaa.org.uk Email: info@eaaa.org.uk Lottery: lottery@eaaa.org.uk Charity number:

1083876

Editor:

Clare Phillips liftoff@eaaa.org.uk Marina Jacobs 07727 749208 www.barberjackson.com www.barnwellprint.co.uk

Advertising: Design: Print:

Whether you are a long term supporter of the charity or you have picked up this magazine for the first time, thank you for your support and interest in the work of EAAA. Melanie Nightingale Director of Fundraising

CBP000102001308144057

By using Carbon Balanced Paper through the World Land Trust on this publication we have offset 5134kg of Carbon & preserved 431sqm of critically threatened tropical forests.

Cover picture: Anglia Two at Audley End (see page 15)

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NEWS

DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE TO PILOT AIR AMBULANCE © Crown copyright 2013

The East Anglian Air Ambulance has this summer confirmed the exciting news that The Duke of Cambridge will be joining the organisation. Kensington Palace formally announced in August that His Royal Highness would become a helicopter pilot with our service.

The Duke will undergo a mandatory period of training over the autumn and winter and will take up his job in spring 2015. In common with all other East Anglian Air Ambulance pilots, The Duke, who is second in line to the throne, will be formally employed by Bond Air Services. It’s believed this is the first time a member of the Royal Family in direct succession has worked for a civilian employer. He will draw a salary which he will donate in full to an undisclosed charity.

EAAA Chief Executive Patrick Peal said: “It’s a great honour for us to have The Duke fly with us and we’re delighted he’s chosen this charity to support in such a direct way.

He will be reacting to emergency 999 calls and he will go and land wherever is suitable

This job will be The Duke’s primary occupation, but his roster will take into account the duties and responsibilities he will continue to undertake on behalf of The Queen, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. The Duke will also continue his work with his patronages and with the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

EAAA aviation consultant Gerry Hermer explained that while the Duke would need to undertake extra training to prepare him for HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) missions and to familiarise him with their aircraft, the role would be similar to his previous job with the RAF Search and Rescue Force in Anglesey.

September, which is estimated to take a minimum of five months to complete. The Duke will continue to undertake engagements on behalf of The Queen and his charitable affiliations during this time. Training for the ATPL (H) will culminate in 14 examinations and a flight test.

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“It will, of course, bring more interest to this air ambulance charity and the work of air ambulance charities across the UK.”

He added: “We have already got terrific support from donors across the region and if having His Royal Highness as one of our pilots helps to interest more people in the work of the East Anglian Air Ambulance and other similar air ambulance charities, that can only be good for the level of support and security of funding for us.”

The job will build on The Duke’s operational experience in the RAF Search and Rescue Force, which His Royal Highness completed in September 2013.

During this time he undertook more than 150 search and rescue operations. Since joining the RAF The Duke has completed over 1,300 flying hours.

The Duke of Cambridge’s role at EAAA will involve both day and night flying and he will operate in both single-pilot and twin‑pilot roles.

He said: “It’s very similar apart from the fact that we don’t fly over the sea and we are unable to carry out winching operations.

“He will be reacting to emergency 999 calls and he will go and land wherever is suitable.”

The Duke will begin training for his Air Transport Pilot’s Licence (Helicopter) in

“It’s a demanding role and I’m sure that he will fulfil that role extremely capably.

The Duke previously served with the Search and Rescue team at RAF Valley where he was based between January 2010 and September 2013. He qualified as a helicopter Captain in June 2012. The end of his Tour at RAF Valley marked more than seven-and-a-half years of full-time military service. © Crown copyright 2013

KELLY’S HELICOPTER HEROES When Kelly Wilshire, from Wisbech, achieved her dream of owning a motorbike she wanted to give herself the best possible chance of passing her test in order to throw away her L-plates. So a month before the test date last summer, she booked herself in for a practice session at the test centre. Sadly for Kelly, who was looking forward to her birthday the following day, she never reached the test centre.

Kelly was involved in an horrific crash on the A17/A47 dual carriageway on the outskirts of King’s Lynn. She hit a lamppost and suffered multiple injuries including two broken wrists, a shattered pelvis and injuries to her knees.

The EAAA crew of Dr Antonio Bellini and Critical Care Paramedic Gary Steward treated Kelly at the scene before flying her to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge where she underwent emergency surgery. Meanwhile her parents were driving to the hospital from their home on the south coast in what they described as the worst journey they’ve ever had to make.

Kelly said: “My parents arrived at the intensive care unit, not really knowing what to expect.

Until then they didn’t even know I’d got a motorbike – I hadn’t wanted them to worry about me riding one. I’ve promised them I won’t get back on one again.”

After two months in hospital at Addenbrooke’s, including a further 15 hours of surgery and 10 days in intensive care, Kelly was moved to hospital in King’s Lynn to be closer to home.

She went home in a wheelchair after another month and underwent weeks of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to try to get back on her feet. As she continued to make progress with her recovery Kelly decided to raise funds for the air ambulance.

Kelly added: “I initially wanted to raise £2,270 which was the cost of my airlift. At Christmas I asked people not to send me cards or presents but to make donations to EAAA instead.

We had a ‘Christmas jumper’ day at the school I teach at and they also held one at my Dad’s workplace.”

When Kelly had progressed to using crutches she visited Norwich Airport to meet the crew who came to her aid. She said: “I wanted to say thank you to them, although thank you isn’t a big enough word for what they did for me. It was an emotional occasion. I knew of the air ambulance before my accident but so many people have no idea that it is funded by charity and not the NHS.” As she continued to recover Kelly pledged to carry on with her fundraising and raised her target to £5,000. Together with 10 friends she decided to take part in May in the Great East Anglia Run – a 10km race in King’s Lynn. Kelly said: “We decided to call our team Kelly’s Helicopter Heroes and all wore superhero costumes, air ambulance T-shirts and capes.

I was still on crutches but was determined to walk the whole 10km. It was very hard and towards the end I was in tears and wanted to stop but one of the team was a PT trainer and he encouraged me through the last 2km, one step at a time. Crossing the finish line was very emotional and we had a few more tears.”

On the anniversary of her accident, and the day before her 33rd birthday Kelly and another group of friends undertook a further fundraising challenge. They cycled a 20 mile route around Sandringham. Despite wet weather, the event was a great success and as ‘Anglia Lift Off’ went to press Kelly’s online fundraising page had passed £4,000. Kelly added: “I want to continue raising awareness about the East Anglian Air Ambulance – it’s a vital service and as I know first-hand, you’ll never know when you might need it.”

Visit Kelly’s online sponsorship page at www.justgiving.com/Kelly-Wilshire.

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NEWS AWARD FOR EAAA DOCTOR An EAAA volunteer doctor who has flown more than 500 missions, giving one day a fortnight to the service since he joined more than 10 years ago was one of the July heroes who received a Point of Light award. This award, made from the Prime Minister’s Office, recognises outstanding people who are making a difference in their community and inspiring others. Dr Tom Moore retired in February having given the equivalent of one year of HEMS volunteer doctor cover.

He said: “I am very grateful indeed for the recognition this award gives to EAAA. I believe it reflects on the whole team and indeed on the whole network of voluntary pre-hospital emergency care.”

The Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This Point of Light award recognises Tom’s lifesaving service. Tom has shown tremendous dedication and bravery, using his medical skills to volunteer in life or death situations.”

CHARITY DIRECTOR RETIRES Staff at EAAA have said a fond farewell to the longest-serving member of the management team, Steve Whitby, who has retired after a 14year association with the organisation. Steve was involved initially as a volunteer book-keeper, based in the Isle of Man, but took up a permanent position on the management team in 2004. As Lottery Promoter he was responsible for bringing this core element of fundraising ‘in house’ and oversaw its early rapid growth and success.

Chairman of Trustees Andrew Egerton-Smith said: “Steve has played a key role in steering the charity through its early growth years to where we are today. He was here when we only flew one aging helicopter and part of the team that drove us forward to allow us to fly sophisticated aircraft, with night-flying capability.

“He’s managed fundraising staff and operational staff and has always been a steady hand on the tiller as the charity has developed and grown. We all wish him a long and well-deserved happy retirement.”

MPs HEAR OF EAAA WORK Members of Parliament had a chance to find out more about the work of EAAA and other air ambulance organisations at a reception held by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Air Ambulances (APPGAA) on the House of Commons Terrace.

The Minister for Civil Society, Nick Hurd MP, praised the work of the UK’s air ambulances saying: “Your good work must continue and as Minister for Civil Society my door is always open.”

EAAA Chief Executive, Patrick Peal said: “The reception was a welcome opportunity to meet and talk to our region’s MPs and our colleagues at other air ambulances.

Strengthening partnerships between air ambulance charities and with the public sector will undoubtedly help us to help the patient.”

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KEEP UP WITH US

ONLINE

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular postings about news, events and pictures. Find us on Facebook as East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity and on Twitter as @EastAngliAirAmb. We also have Facebook and Twitter pages for each of the four counties we cover and regularly share their content. Here’s what people have been talking about recently:

Jane Lacey Words cannot express my thanks for the wonderful amazing job the air Ambulance and Paramedics did when they saved my husbands life on Sunday 15th June... as he was being put into the helicopter he went into cardiac arrest they brought him back to life and airlifted him to Norfolk & Norwich Hospital he went into theatre and was operated on and is recovering very well... thank you all so very much.

UK Prime Minister @Number10gov Tom Moore wins today’s #PointsofLight award through saving lives through his volunteering with @EastAngliAirAmb.

Mark Coningsby Great to meet with Linda Hills again last night at the Royston & District Motorcycle Show cheque presentation. Perhaps even better was giving her £4000 for the Air Ambulance

Andrew Stonell @andrewstonell1 @EastAngliAirAmb I always put money in the collection pots at #roysofwroxham #Norfolk as they are at every till.

Melanie Spillman Thank you to Klara and the East Anglian Air Ambulance crew for allowing Waitrose Norwich to present a cheque for £779.79 today. It was an absolute honour to meet you all and listen to your amazing stories you are all heroes.

Pamela Chrispin @DrPamChrispin Anglia 1 has finally RTBd after a pretty busy day. Thanks to all my fellow crew – truly helicopter heroes today! @EastAngliAirAmb

V

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If you are organising an event for EAAA please let us know about it in advance and we will help you to promote it. Details of all our fundraising events can be found on our website. Contact details for all our offices mentioned in the events below can be found on page three.

E

SATURDAY/SUNDAY 13/14 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER

CLASSIC AND VINTAGE VEHICLE SHOW STAMPERAMA The Embankment, Peterborough

The Rufus Centre, Flitwick, Bedfordshire

East Anglian Air Ambulance is delighted to have been chosen as one of two charities to benefit from this event featuring all types of vintage and classic vehicles. There will also be a host of other attractions including live music, arts and crafts, a funfair and plenty to eat and drink.

A paper craft and rubber stamp show, which is supporting EAAA this year. A great event for art and craft enthusiasts.

Tickets available at the door for £2 each and for visitors arriving by train, a courtesy shuttle bus will run between the venue and Flitwick Station.

SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER

SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER

SEPTEMBER SWING CHARITY BALL

TWILIGHT BALL

A gala black tie event beginning with a champagne reception, followed by a three course meal and dancing to the fabulous Polka Dots Ladies swing trio and their six piece backing band. There will also be a ‘money can’t buy’ auction. We’re very grateful to Peterborough Minster Rotary, for their help to organise this prestigious event. Tickets are £40.00 each. For more information please contact Chris Donaldson in our Peterborough office.

A black tie event for our supporters in South Cambridgeshire, to include a sparkling drinks reception and a three course meal with wine, coffee and sweet treats. Music from the band ‘Back to the 80s’ as well as a DJ, and a magician will also be performing on the night. A raffle will give a chance to win a diamond for just £10. Tickets are £40 each. Please contact Meg Davies in our South Cambridgeshire office for more information.

Holiday Inn West, Peterborough

SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER

The Cambridge Belfry, Cambourne

SATURDAY 15 NOVEMBER

SPONSORED HORSE RIDE

THE ‘CRYSTAL’ BALL

The British Horse Society has once again teamed up with EAAA for this popular event giving riders the chance to explore parkland not usually open to them. Routes of five, 10 or 15 miles, mainly off-road, are available with an entry fee of £15 and £10 or more in sponsorship required. The event is held with the kind permission of Charles Whitbread and Whitbread Farms Ltd. Full details are available from our Bedfordshire fundraising office.

A glittering charity ball for our supporters in Norfolk to celebrate EAAA’s 15th Anniversary, with raffle prizes generously sponsored

by Norwich jewellers Tilletts. The evening includes a sparkling drinks reception, three course meal and live music from popular local band The Yow Yows (pictured) as well as a roadshow casino with prizes to include an overnight stay at Sprowston Manor. Tickets are £35 each and are available, along with more information about the event, from Klara Mears in our Norfolk fundraising office.

Southill Park, near Biggleswade, Bedfordshire

TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER

GIFT FAIR

Sprowston Manor, Norwich

Picture by Charlotte Knee

Ufford Park Hotel, near Woodbridge, Suffolk This is a chance to buy early Christmas presents from a stunning collection of gifts and treats, many of which are not available on the high street. Jewellery, knitwear, accessories for the home and garden and eye-catching stationery are just some of the items on offer. Tickets are available on the door at £3 and a Private View will be held on the evening of Monday 13 October with a limited number of tickets at £10 each. Please contact our Suffolk fundraising team for more information.

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HEALTHY EATING BOOST YOUR DIET WITH

BEETROOT Beetroot is a great healthy food and late summer into autumn is when it is freshly harvested. Much of the UK’s commercial beetroot is grown on the fertile soils of the Cambridgeshire fens, which is a traditional salad and vegetable growing area. The fens offer the perfect combination of soil, sun and water to produce a sweet, full flavoured root. Long standing EAAA supporter G’s Fresh Beetroot based at March in Cambridgeshire is one of the UK’s leading beetroot processors.

Beetroots need a lot of sunshine to get the sweet taste they are renowned for. Harvesting is from early July through to mid-October, after which the roots can be stored for several months.

Not only is beetroot great for boosting stamina, making muscles work harder and helping to lower blood pressure, it also contains potassium, magnesium and iron as well as vitamins A, B6 and C, and folic acid. Beets also contain carbohydrates, protein, powerful antioxidants and soluble fibre. What’s more, just three baby beetroot equal one of your recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

At G’s Fresh Beetroot state-of-the-art factory they cook, peel and pack a range of beetroot products, some of which are marinated in a variety of natural flavours. Their biggest line is vacuum packed beetroot which is just cooked in its own juices and is a wonderful storecupboard standby that can be used in any recipe that calls for cooked beetroot.

Meanwhile G’s very kindly supported us once again with their Open Farm Sunday event in Barway in June. All the other stallholders were also very generous on the day and the collections and donation points around the event helped us raise more than £1,400.

DID YOU KNOW: y arm Sunda G’s Open F

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The natural pigment in beetroot is widely used as a food colouring, being used to improve the appearance of tomato paste, strawberry jam and even strawberry icecream!

RECIPE: BEETROOT & CHICKEN BAKE Serves 4 Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes You’ll need: 500g new potatoes, cut into wedges 250g pack cooked beetroot, cut in half 250g Chantenay carrots, or 250g large carrots peeled & cut into 2cm chunks 1 onion, diced 3 cloves garlic, cut into fine slices 2-3 sprigs of thyme 175ml white wine 4tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 chicken legs salt & freshly ground black pepper What to do: 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas 6 2. In a large roasting tin, mix the potatoes, beetroot, carrots, onion and garlic.

3. Drizzle over the olive oil and pour over the wine, and tuck the thyme in between the vegetables. Season well with salt & pepper.

4. Season the chicken legs all over with salt and pepper and lay them on top of the vegetables. Cover loosely with foil and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

5. Remove the foil from the tin and return to the oven. Bake for a further 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is golden and crisp and the vegetable are cooked through.

For more tasty recipes visit www.lovebeetroot.co.uk

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Friday 26th September, Tickets: £10 in advance, £12 on the door Over 18’s only. Doors Open 7.30pm, Show Time 8.30pm.

Host Comedian - Dave Whitney

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Middle Comedian - Phil Butler Headline Comedian - Junior Simpson Tickets/Info: 01842 898068 or elveden.com | Food and bar available PLEASE NOTE : We cannot guarantee there will be any ‘on the door’ tickets available on the night, please ensure you buy in advance. Acts subject to change without prior notice.

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Our high quality restaurant serves freshly prepared food, after a bite to eat or a cup of quality coffee why not enjoy a wonder through the plant area into our fabulous outdoor living display not forgetting a huge range of gift ideas, books, puzzles, games to entertain.

Don’t forget we stock a wide range of cut or potted Christmas trees from mid November alongside our magical Christmas shop and free parking at every site we’re well worth a visit.

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE EAAA VOLUNTEERS BUCK NATIONAL TREND Figures released from the Government this summer showed that volunteering has decreased slightly in the last year – but here at EAAA we’re delighted to say we’ve seen no such downturn – in fact it’s quite the opposite.

The Community Life Survey produces statistics annually for the Cabinet Office. It looks at social action and community engagement. In the figures for 2013-14 it found that nearly two thirds of respondents, around the same as the previous year, had volunteered informally at least once in the last year but the number who take part in regular formal volunteering was slightly down on the last year. The figures show that 27% of those questioned are involved in formal volunteering at least once a month – down from 29% the previous year.

EAAA Area Fundraising Manager Chris Donaldson, based in Peterborough, said: “I’m pleased to say that this is certainly not the picture in my part of the region. I’ve seen more people coming forward to help the charity in a variety of different ways and all of them are very much appreciated. A charity like ours relies enormously on volunteers to help our fundraising teams and to raise awareness of what we do. Without the efforts of these valued and dedicated people we would not have been able to achieve all that we have.”

The same survey found that the number of people giving money to charity has been increasing slightly since 2009. It’s gradually risen from 72% in 2009-10 to 75% in the most recent figures.

VOLUNTEER FOCUS JAMIE EDGHILL Jamie Edghill from Cromer recently celebrated 10 years as a volunteer with EAAA and held a luncheon for those who have supported him in his charity work. He was presented with a framed picture of the helicopter and a letter of thanks from our Chairman Andrew Egerton‑Smith.

Why did you choose EAAA? When I was a retained firefighter my job was about saving lives and when I retired from that I wanted to be involved in something that was still to do with saving lives. When I first joined the fire service if I attended a road accident the casualty might have a long journey to hospital so I am only too aware what a valuable resource the air ambulance is for rural North Norfolk.

What does your role involve?

I’m happy to support the fundraisers with anything they ask me to do. I’ll go and help at events and run the merchandise stall or go to a function to accept a cheque as a representative of the charity. I also help with street and supermarket collections and for the last seven years I have run a football ‘quiz’ in aid of the charity. I started with 65 people taking part and this year I had more than 1,200.

What’s the best bit about your role?

CAN YOU HELP? We are always glad to hear from people who can give us their time, whether this is with a particular skill or helping out generally.

Volunteers with our charity carry out all sorts of tasks from helping with admin work, to collecting and distributing fundraising tins, working with our promotional and fundraising team at events, assisting in our Ipswich shop or giving talks to local groups. If you would like to help us as a volunteer please contact your nearest fundraising office – details can be found on page three. We’d be delighted to have your help whether it’s on a regular or ad‑hoc basis.

10 LIFT OFF

It’s wonderful when I’m out representing EAAA and someone comes up to me and says, ‘If it wasn’t for the air ambulance I wouldn’t be here.’ I love meeting people and as a volunteer I have often had a chance to meet people I would never have done otherwise, such as the time I went to receive a cheque for the charity and was given it by one of the Anglia TV presenters.

Would you recommend volunteering to others?

Very much so. When I’m out collecting I know that I’m contributing to saving people’s lives. In addition I’ve been able to go to all sorts of events across North Norfolk and sometimes further afield. I get involved with lots of charity events – except when Norwich City are playing at home because I am a season ticket holder. But that’s what’s so good about volunteering – you can fit it around your other commitments.

DELIVERING EXCELLENCE AIR AMBULANCE CREWS PIONEERING CARDIAC CARE EAAA medics demonstrate the AutoPulse

Clinicians aboard the two East Anglian Air Ambulances are using new lifesaving equipment to help people whose hearts have stopped beating.

When someone goes into cardiac arrest they lose consciousness almost at once and there will be no other signs of life such as breathing or movement. Although a heart attack can result in cardiac arrest they are not the same thing but both require immediate emergency care from a 999 crew.

The AutoPulse ca n easily on the clin be carried ician’s back

Dr Chesters said: “If a heart attack is the In the three months from April to June this year EAAA clinicians were called to problem it’s critical to get a cardiac arrest more than 125 cardiac arrest patients. Dr Adam Chesters is involved in the latest patient to a hospital that can carry out PCI or work being undertaken by the service in this area. He explained: “The most Percutaneous Coronary Intervention – also important thing to do when someone has a cardiac arrest is to provide immediate known as angioplasty. There are a number of chest compressions to keep the brain alive until the heart can be restarted. hospitals in our region that can do this and you There’s been a big campaign by organisations such as the are never more than about an British Heart Foundation to teach people how to do CPR in an hour by road from one of them – emergency – such as the Stayin’ Alive film with Vinnie Jones so the air ambulance clinicians Approximately one in 10 and more and more places now have defibrillators. of the patients we go to whose are just as likely to travel in a “The initial emergency first aid by people on the scene and land ambulance to continue heart has stopped, meaning the ambulance crew’s work is absolutely critical but the EAAA treating a patient than to fly them they are to all intents and team can then bring enhanced skills and equipment that, it’s to hospital.” no exaggeration to say, can mean the difference between life purposes ‘dead’, will go on to At the hospital the patient may and death.” undergo angioplasty which make a full recovery.

For the last few months crews aboard Anglia One and Anglia involves a small balloon being Two have carried a piece of equipment known as an AutoPulse. inflated inside a blocked artery to It’s a non invasive cardiac support pump that does automatic chest compressions allow the blood to flow. to improve blood flow. It can continue giving chest compressions while the Dr Chesters added: “We are being tasked patient is being transported to hospital, whether that’s in a helicopter or by road to many more cardiac arrest patients and means the doctor and paramedic can concentrate on other and we are making a real difference. lifesaving treatment, greatly improving the patient’s Approximately one in 10 of the patients chances of survival. we go to whose heart has stopped, While the equipment is still being evaluated by the EAAA meaning they are to all intents and crews, the AutoPulse is credited with helping to save the purposes ‘dead’, will go on to make a life of Bolton Wanderers footballer Fabrice Muamba who full recovery. In the last three years collapsed on the pitch of an FA Cup Quarter Final against I would estimate there have been Spurs at White Hart Lane in 2012. The player was technically around 1,000 such patients across ‘dead’ for more than an hour and a quarter and the machine our region, which means there are was used on him for more than 40 minutes. The player about 100 people who have literally described his subsequent recovery as ‘more than a miracle.’ been brought back to life.”

Pictures by Glyn Collins

LIFT OFF 11

FABULOUS FUNDRAISING Fundraising events help us to keep the two air ambulance helicopters flying, serving the people of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk seven days a week.

If you have organised an event why not send pictures and details of the day to liftoff@eaaa.org.uk and we will try to feature them in these pages. If the stories here inspire you to try and raise some money then the fundraising manager for your area would be pleased to hear from you. Contact details are on page three.

GLORIOUS GOLFING DOG SHOW RAISES FUNDS IN TRIBUTE Two Norfolk dog lovers were remembered at a charity companion dog show near Dereham, which has raised over £3,500. Emma Herring and her mum Kim, a staunch EAAA supporter and well-known Mastiff exhibitor, had originally planned to hold the show in memory of a friend. However before the planned event could take place, Emma and Kim were involved in a serious road accident and although an EAAA crew attended, Kim couldn’t be saved.

Emma decided to hold the show as a tribute to her mother and their friend and the day was a runaway success with over 170 dogs taking part.

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One of the highlights in our Suffolk fundraising calendar is the annual Halesworth Charity Golf Day which has been running for 14 years and in that time has raised more than £110,000 for EAAA. Originally the brainchild of Gary Slaymaker, it’s now organised by Ashley Turner. The event is always a fun day out with great prizes and fancy dress fun, as our picture shows.

Despite a heavy thunderstorm late in the afternoon this year, the event raised an amazing £12,500.

Meanwhile we’d also like to thank Bedfordshire-based Modplan Building and Refurbishment Contractors in Shefford who raised nearly £3,500 at their recent golf day.

BOWLING MARATHON Bowls enthusiasts from across Bedfordshire and elsewhere helped raise more than £5,000 for EAAA at a 24 hour indoor Bowlathon. The event was held at Bedford Borough Bowling Club and was the idea of Club President Anne Dilley who chose to support the charity because her grandson was airlifted a few years ago after a rugby accident.

One of the teams taking part in the event was captained by Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson who is pictured here with Anne. The event left everyone exhausted, especially the team known as ‘The Squad’ who played for the full 24 hours.

THANK YOU...

GARDEN PARTY BLOOMS AGAIN One of our longest-serving community fundraising groups has recently presented us with a wonderful £5,000 at a garden party celebration.

The event was held at the home of Betty Powell who, together with Sylvia Howell, has organised many events for the charity in Fakenham and the surrounding area. Mrs Powell holds an annual open garden event for EAAA. Area Fundraising Manager Chris Donaldson said: “This group of supporters has raised many thousands of pounds for us in the last 14 years, which means they have funded dozens of missions and played a vital role in our lifesaving work. They have all done so much to help raise our profile in Fakenham and we are extremely grateful for their incredible efforts.”

There are so many fundraising activities taking place every week in our region that it’s simply not possible to mention all of them but every penny raised is greatly appreciated.

Here are a few recent activities: Connie and Paddy Cole raised £2,300 at a special event at Chinny’s Sports Bar in Halesworth in memory of their son Steve Queen.

Various groups in Kimbolton, Cambs, have supported us recently including The Flower Club, The Bridge Club and Kimbolton School.

Between them they’ve raised more than £1,200.

Two Rotary Clubs in Bedfordshire have recently given generous donations with £500 from Dunstable and £250 from Biggleswade.

Wood Burning Solutions in Wickham Market, Suffolk, have kindly donated nearly £1,200 after making us their charity of the year for the second year running.

Desira Group have donated £1,000 following the launch of their new Infiniti showroom in Norwich and have generously pledged ongoing support.

MOTOCROSS FAN’S MEMORIAL The family of a motocross enthusiast from Suffolk have raised nearly £4,000 in his memory. Eric Burnham died earlier this year. He was well known in the motocross world as he had been involved with the practice track at Blythburgh for many years. His widow, Angela, and sons Mark and Kevin from Wenhaston, asked for donations to EAAA at Eric’s funeral and held a fundraising event his memory.

The memorial ride organised by Angela’s sons was held at Blythburgh Motocross Track and the entrance fee, paid by the riders, was donated to the charity.

The cheque was presented to EAAA pilot, Steve Norris, who said: ‘We often attend incidents at Blythburgh Motocross Track and it’s very kind of them to support us in Eric’s memory.’

Collections and donations from fans at Bedford Rugby matches last season have raised over £1,800.

North Norfolk Classic Vehicle Club raised over £2,000 at their annual St George’s Day run.

A Vintage Garden Party at Oxnead Hall, near Aylsham, raised £1,000.

A year of fundraising by the Inner Wheel Club of Luton Chiltern has generated £2,000.

To donate £5 to EAAA please text heli to 70500 LIFT OFF 13

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call 01728 452720 To book or visit www.whitelion.co.uk email info@whitelion.co.uk The White Lion Hotel, Market Cross Place, Aldeburgh, Suffolk, IP15 5BJ

RECENT MISSIONS We publish details of as many of our missions as possible on our website and some will also be featured on our social media sites. It’s not possible to mention them all in ‘Anglia Lift Off’ but we hope this page gives an insight into the variety of incidents our crews attend.

If you take pictures of either of our helicopters out and about we are always pleased to receive them and, with permission, will endeavour to use them in our magazine or online. Send your pictures to liftoff@eaaa.org.uk Wicklewood

M I S S ION

MISSION

A woman in her 20s who had suffered a head injury after falling from a horse was treated by the crew of Anglia Two. Dr Monojit Choudhury and CCP Rob Elias assisted colleagues from the land ambulance who then took the patient to the West Suffolk Hospital.

Anglia One’s crew of Dr Audun Langhelle and CCP Andy Downes were called to a two vehicle road collision at Wicklewood near Wymondham. They assisted colleagues from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust to treat casualties at the scene.

C O V ER S T O R Y

M I S S ION

FACTS AND FIGURES

Our cover picture of Anglia Two was taken at the stunning setting of Audley End House, an English Heritage stately home near Saffron Walden in Essex. A man had been taken ill at the property with chest pains and our clinicians Dr Ed Gold and Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Rob Elias worked closely with the ambulance service medics at the scene before the patient, who was in his 50s, was taken to Papworth Hospital by road.

The popular tourist attraction was closed to allow the clinicians to treat the casualty but it opened again to the public later that day.

A man in his 70s who had suffered a cardiac arrest was resuscitated at the scene of the incident by the crew of Anglia One working alongside ambulance service colleagues. The man was airlifted from Wratting Common in the village of Great Bradley near Newmarket to hospital in Norwich.

In April we treated 101 casualties with 40 of them attended by Anglia One and 61 by Anglia Two. In around a quarter of these cases the patient was also airlifted to hospital. Anglia Two flew at night 11 times this month.

The clinicians aboard Anglia Two treated 59 people in May and Anglia One’s crew assisted 37 patients making a total of 96 for the month.

We flew 19 missions at night and in total flew 27 people to hospital.

In June we treated a total of 106 casualties, airlifting 30 of them to hospital. Of those 61 were attended by Anglia Two and 45 by Anglia One. We flew at night 17 times.

M I S S IO N A man who had suffered a neck injury in a fall was treated by the crew of Anglia One at Scratby on the Norfolk coast. Dr Jeremy Mauger, Dr Vicky Smith and CCP Ben Caine administered pain relief and the casualty, who was in his 60s was taken to hospital by road.

SINCE OUR LAST ISSUE

M I S S ION A night-time mission for Anglia Two saw the crew attend the scene of a serious road accident involving a motorcyclist. The man had suffered a severe injury and was treated by Dr Monojit Choudhury and CCP Gary Spitzer before being flown to hospital.

In the cases where we do not fly a casualty to hospital, our clinicians will frequently travel in the land ambulance with the casualty to assist with medical treatment en-route. Or it may also be the case that we are able to give treatment at the scene of the incident and stabilise the patient before leaving them in the care of the ambulance service. During these three months the most common incident type we attended was cardiac arrest, followed by road traffic collisions. We also attended a significant number of medical emergencies and falls.

LIFT OFF 15

Lottery

S R E N N I W W A R SUMMER D

LOTTERY JACKPOT WINNERS SINCE OUR LAST EDITION

our Grand ught tickets in bo ho w ne yo ere drawn at eful to ever The winners w .

00 ,0 We’re very grat £3 of e Knights with a top priz won by Patrick as w e iz pr Summer Draw st fir the Bagge of August and

by Sir Jeremy on w as w 00 ,0 the beginning of £1 went to Carol e second prize ird prize of £500 th e of Stamford. Th th d an nn ar King’s Ly of Stradsett ne . reat Yarmouth these were Goreham of G izes of £50 and pr up s er nn ilson of e were ten ru edford; N.D. W B of g lin In addition ther ar St .

N s of March; ter of Norwich; hwold; T. Jone ut So of r ur won by: B. Bax H er; T. th; D. Lewis of . Paton of Crom of Great Yarmou d Cambridge; R oo w er nd U orwich; V. D. Lawson of N ston.

P. Mundy of Roy Dunstable and

For full details each week of the EAAA lottery winners and the current accumulator prize please visit our website – www.eaaa.org.uk The results are published there first and as soon as possible after the draw is made. They remain available on the site for approximately one month. If you follow us on Twitter @EastAngliAirAmb we aim to ‘tweet’ when the results are available, as soon as possible after the Friday afternoon draw. In the last quarter the £1,000 jackpot has been won by: May 02

Mr & Mrs Garwood

Littleport, Cambs

May 09

Mr D. Ong

Norwich

May 16

Mrs E. Sharpe

Peterborough

May 23

Mrs M. Baston

Norwich

May 30

Mr J. Beacher

King’s Lynn

Jun 10

Mrs M. Chapman

Cambridge

Jun 13

Mrs. S. Virgo

Gloucester

Jun 20

Mr D. Dagnall

Hadleigh, Suffolk

Jun 27

Mr A. Spicer

Thetford

Jul 04

Mrs C. Maund

Bury St. Edmunds

Jul 11

A. Bullard

Gorleston, Norfolk

Jul 18

Mrs S.A. Burgess

Norwich

Jul 25

Mr W. Clark

Wymondham, Norfolk

THE ACCUMULATOR PRIZE The accumulator prize was not won at all in this period It means that for the first draw in August the prize stood at £12,500, among the highest amounts the prize has ever reached since the game’s launch in 2007. This is a special draw made every week with additional numbers added to the system. Each week a total of £500 is added to the prize pot – up to a maximum of £25,000. When the prize is won the accumulator starts again the following week at £500. Everyone who plays our lottery is automatically entered for this draw and has the same chance of winning this as all our other weekly prizes.

Details of how much it has reached each week and whether it has been won or not are posted in the Lottery News section of our website.

Congratulations to all our lottery winners and thanks to all who have chosen to make a donation to the charity following a win. We’d especially like to thank those who have completed a Gift Aid form when making a donation. This allows us to claim 20% tax back from the Government, if the donor is a UK tax-payer, at no extra cost to them. The form is available from our offices or website.

About our lottery

How does it work?

How do I claim my prize?

Supporting the East Anglian Air Ambulance lottery is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to keep us flying and saving lives. There are 18 main cash prizes including a jackpot of £1,000 which is won every week. We also have an accumulator prize which rises by £500 per week. The maximum it can reach is £25,000 and we have had several of our supporters win significant sums. Everyone who plays the lottery is automatically entered into the accumulator draw.

Once we receive your completed membership application we enter your details onto our lottery system. You’ll be sent a letter and membership card with details of your lucky number. Each Friday the winners are randomly selected from all current paying members.

There is no need to make a claim as we automatically send out all the winners’ cheques by 1st class post on Friday afternoons.

A list of winners can be found on our website www.eaaa.org.uk. The results are also announced on Radio Norwich 99.9FM at 9am on Saturday morning. Some local newspapers also print our lottery results.

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How much does it cost?

Each ‘chance’ in our lottery costs £1 and you can have more than one ‘chance’ each week if you wish.

CANVASSERS VISIT BASE Much of the recent growth in the number of people playing our lottery has been thanks to a dedicated team of canvassers who invite people to sign up in supermarkets or by calling door to door. They play a vital role in our charity and we make sure that they are kept up to date with all our developments to allow them to talk about our service knowledgably and with confidence to potential supporters.

They recently took part in their latest training day at our head office at Norwich Airport. It also gave them a chance to meet the crew and look at the helicopter and other facilities.

Lottery Manager Mike Burt said: “Our canvassers are very much the public face of our lottery game and we do all we can to help them present a professional image to supporters. They have EAAA branded fleeces and polo shirts and of course they all carry identification as well. In addition to this, our canvassers will never ask for cash or simply take donations. Our team at head office are always happy to help if someone is unsure about a caller claiming to be one of our canvassers and anyone wanting to phone us to check should do so on 0845 130 7676.”

Pictures of all our canvassers are added to our website as soon as possible after they join us and can be found in the Lottery section.

THANK YOU The East Anglian Air Ambulance Charity is enormously appreciative of the support from our loyal lottery players.

Your weekly contribution really does make a difference and has helped to generate millions for the charity since it started. Without your continued support, it would be very difficult for us to maintain the service we currently provide.

Many players responded to our appeal in the last issue to stop receiving paper copies of this magazine, opting to read it online or download our App instead. This will save the charity money on printing and postage costs and is very much appreciated. Details are on our website.

However, please don’t forget to let us know if you move house, we send our winning cheques through the post each week so it’s vital that we have an up to date address for our players.

How do I join?

Simply complete the application form on these pages and return it to us at the address printed on the form. All players must be over the age of 16. If you would like to pay by cheque then don’t forget to include this in with your application form. Alternatively if you don’t want to cut out the form or you know several people who might like to join, then it’s now even easier to do so.

We have an ancillary remote licence from the Gambling Commission which means we can sign lottery members up via our website (visit the shop section to do so) and over the phone on 01603 489400.

If you are reading this edition of ‘Anglia Lift Off’ because you are already a member of our lottery then when you have finished it, why not pass it on to someone else who might like to find out more about supporting our work in this way?

LOTTERY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION New Member Details (Please fill in your contact and payment details) Name Address

Postcode

Tel

For cheque payment:

No. of chances per week No. of weeks (min 13) Total amount due £

For direct debit payments: (Please fill in the form below)

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit

Service User Number

Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society

422746

To: The Manager

Bank/Building Society

Address Postcode Name(s) of Account Holder(s) Branch Sort Code Bank/Building Society Account Number Reference:

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society Please pay East Anglian Air Ambulance Direct Debits from the account detailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain with East Anglian Air Ambulance and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Signature(s)

Date

Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

The sum of £ Monthly (£4.34) First payment on

(Minimum payment of £4.34 per chance per month)

Quarterly (£13) /

/

Half-yearly (£26)

Yearly (£52)

and thereafter until further notice.

Please return your completed membership application form (with cheque made payable to Friends of East Anglian Air Ambulance) to: Friends of East Anglian Air Ambulance, Hangar E, Norwich Airport, Gambling Close, Norwich NR6 6EG Members must be aged 16 years or over, please tick this box to confirm Each chance costs £1 per week. All the data we hold is gathered and managed in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998). We will not disclose any information supplied by you to any third party. We may contact you occasionally with information about other aspects of our work. If you would prefer not to receive these mailings please tick this box

Issue 36

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15th ANNIVERSARY LAUNCH OF NEW MERCHANDISE We are about to launch our stunning new merchandise range to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the charity. As 15 years is usually marked by crystal our special anniversary pin badge has been designed to reflect this and it costs just £1. Our previous pin badges have always been extremely popular and if you want to add this one to your collection we advise placing your order early.

We’re hoping that supporters will help us celebrate our anniversary by hosting a fundraising tea party. Across the region we’re inviting groups of friends and family to sit down at 3pm (or 1500 hours) with a mug of tea and a cake. And to help you do this, our anniversary range includes a porcelain tea pot (priced at £15), a boxed bone china mug (£5), an apron (£8.50) and tea towel (£3.50) to help with the preparation and clearing away and a pack of 50 cupcake cases (£5). We also have an attractive anniversary jute bag at £3. All of our anniversary merchandise can be bought via our area fundraising offices, please see page three to find details of your nearest one.

CARDS & GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS If you received our last issue of ‘Anglia Lift Off’ in the post you would also have been sent our 2014 Christmas card and merchandise brochure. Hundreds of people have already placed early orders, for which we are very grateful, but there is still time to buy your cards in preparation for the festive season. Until we are able to re-open our online shop, orders must be made on the form available to download on our website or by contacting one of our fundraising offices. Post the order form back to us at FREEPOST EAAA. Our Christmas card range this year (all pictured on this page) offers a choice of seven different cards, all priced at £3.50 for a pack of 10. The greeting inside them reads: ‘Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.’ The square cards are all 127mm x 127mm, the ‘Robin Trio’ card is 84 x 170 mm and the three others in the range are 114 x 160mm.

We have a great range of merchandise available too, all priced at £5 or less. Some of the items are pictured here but the full range can be found in our brochure, which can be downloaded from our website. These make great gifts for children to buy from their pocket money or for adults to purchase for Christmas stocking fillers.

Meanwhile another great Christmas gift idea is to purchase membership of our lottery.

This can be done by using the form in this magazine on page 17 or by visiting our website and buying membership online. All players of our lottery must be over the age of 16, even if it is bought as a gift.

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www.laemunns.com

Nearly 400 stockists throughout the UK. Visit our website and find one near you!

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FUNDRAISING

RIDE FOR YOUR LIVES Our annual cycling challenge Ride for Your Lives took place in bright sunshine in June around Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, with more than 40 cyclists joining in. A total of almost 1,000 miles was completed by the participants in soaring temperatures. Local companies, Barclays Peterborough and Michell Instruments, supported the day with teams of riders and we were also delighted to welcome Damien and Sally from the August cycling challenge Lap of Anglia. Assisted by a number of EAAA volunteers including Andrew Fellows, who took some great pictures, the fundraising team collected around £2,000 from the day.

MUD MUD GLORIOUS MUD A race that offers its participants ‘one of natures toughest, muddiest obstacle courses’ was just the challenge for a team from haulage firm Turners (Soham) Ltd. The group took part in The Gauntlet, organised by Mucky Races, with water pits and possibly the toughest mud pits in the UK to negotiate as well as a series of obstacles including walls, ditches, straw bales and barbed wire to crawl under. There was a choice of either a 6km or a 12km course and the group enjoyed themselves so much they went back for more in a similar event in July. It’s part of the company’s ongoing support for EAAA which has also included a cycling event this summer. Taking part in The Gauntlet raised nearly £1,200.

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RIDGEONS’ RACERS Branches of Ridgeons across our region are generously supporting us this year as their company’s chosen charity, with the Newmarket branch undertaking a cycling challenge to tie in with the town’s racing heritage.

Staff at the builders’ and timber merchants dressed up in racing silks to complete 158 miles on an exercise bike – the distance between horseracing’s headquarters and Cheltenham, home of the Gold Cup. In between stints on the bike they continued to serve customers throughout the day and raised a stunning £2,500 from the event.

Picture used courtesy of Matthew Power Photography.

THANKS SIBLINGS 100km WALK A brother and sister who lost their father in a road accident undertook a 100km challenge to raise more than £750 for EAAA. Robin Freebairn from Caxton near Cambridge and his sister Jane walked non-stop over two days from London to Brighton.

EAAA RUNWAY RUN A reminder that the annual EAAA Runway Run takes place this year at 10.30am on Sunday 14 September with a route of 10km as well as the original 5km – both of which are open to runners and walkers.

Nearly £600 was raised by a team from Studio Cambridge who took part in the Oxford Fun Run (above).

Members of Icknield Road Cycle Club organised rides of 15, 45 and 70 miles at the beginning of May raising £1,100 and plan to hold a similar day next year.

Katie Hall, whose father Dean is an EAAA volunteer, took part in the 20 mile Rat Race at Burghley House, described as the World’s Biggest Assault Course. She raised over £800 for the charity.

Staff from Greenwoods Solicitors in Peterborough recently completed a 40 mile night-time walk around Rutland Water as part of their fundraising, having chosen EAAA as their charity of the year for 2014.

Supporter Gary Emery (below, on the right) took part in the Rutland Hell Runner challenge and raised over £1,300.

The event takes place at Sculthorpe Airfield near Fakenham by kind permission of the MoD. There will be live music and entertainment for all the family as well as on site catering.

To register for the event please visit www.chiptiminguk.co.uk.

Entry to the race costs £10 if the participant raises a minimum sponsorship total of £50 or £25 if the participant does not wish to raise sponsorship.

The entry fee is £5 for participants aged five -17 or over 65. More details about the event are also available on our website.

Meanwhile we are very grateful to the seven runners who took part in the London 10km race in July raising money for EAAA. Pictured above is Mick Money and his sons Curtis and Christian who completed it in 60, 55 and 46 minutes respectively.

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HOW TO HELP US LEGACIES FUND FIVE MISSIONS A WEEK Funding from gifts in wills is vital to our charity and when our financial year came to an EAAA volunteer Tom Lock end this summer, the number of missions paid for in this way surprised many in the (right) charity. Nearly 290 of the missions flown by Anglia One and Anglia Two during the 2013-14 financial year – or five and a half a week - were paid for by donations left in legacies.

This statistic amazed airlifted patient and EAAA volunteer Tom Lock who works closely with our Ipswich fundraising team. He said: “We see the highly visible side of fundraising such as bucket collections and cheque presentations after events. We don’t tend to ‘see’ legacies because the charity usually hears about it when a letter arrives from the supporter’s executors, so to know that in fact more than five missions a week were paid for in this way is incredible. It makes me wonder now if Anglia One was only able to save my life because someone had thought to remember the charity in their will.”

Legacy Officer Rhiannon Edwards said: “I’m always happy to help anyone with information about making or changing a will and there is plenty of information on our website too. It’s always wonderful to hear from people who are thinking of leaving a gift to the charity in their will, or have already done so, because it allows me to thank them personally and to explain how this money is used. Anyone who would like to get in touch is welcome to do so on 01223 403600.”

Tom was airlifted after an horrific car crash at Wherstead near Ipswich. He’d suffered multiple injuries including a serious head injury and was in hospital for several months, initially fighting for his life. He says he owes the speed of his recovery to the skills of the EAAA clinical crew who attended to him and flew him to hospital.

In the last mailing of Anglia Lift Off we included a codicil form to help anyone wishing to make an amendment to their will.

Rhiannon added: “So many people got in touch to say what a good idea it was and how easy we’d made it for them. We’re very grateful to all who took advantage of the opportunity and for those who then took the trouble to contact us too.”

He added: “Having had first hand experience of the air ambulance service and now attending events with the fundraising team I am so grateful that people continue to support this vital charity. The fact that people can give so generously by leaving a legacy and knowing how many lives are being saved because of that is quite humbling.”

If you’d like more information about leaving a gift in your will please visit our website, contact Rhiannon on the above number, or use the form below and send it to FREEPOST EAAA.

HELP US SAVE LIVES

There are many ways in which you can support us, please help by ticking the boxes which interest you and completing your contact details.

Then simply return the form to: FREEPOST EAAA or email the area(s) which interests you with your contact details to: info@eaaa.org.uk or telephone: 08450 669 999. For more information about East Anglian Air Ambulance and for details of fundraising events in your area, please visit www.eaaa.org.uk

Thank you for your support

✃

Name Address Postcode Tel

Email

I’d like to make a donation and enclose a sum of £

I’d like information to help me raise money for EAAA

I’d like to find out about setting up a regular donation

I’d like information on how to leave a legacy

I’d like to know more about becoming a volunteer

I’d like to receive details about corporate sponsorship

Add 20p to every £1 you donate at no extra cost to you by ticking this box and signing below. This will enable us to claim GiftAid. I am a UK taxpayer and would like the East Anglian Air Ambulance to reclaim the tax on the enclosed gift and all gifts of money that I have made in the past 4 years and all future gifts of money that I make from the date of this declaration.

Signature

Date

All the data is gathered and managed in strict accordance with the Data Protection Act (1998). We will not disclose any information supplied by you to any third party.

We may contact you occasionally with information about other aspects of our work. If you would prefer not to receive these mailing please tick here

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