Cause close to our Wiltshire hearts (From Wiltshire Times)

Cause close to our Wiltshire hearts

9:00am Sunday 11th April 2010 in News By Jill Crooks

The Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal is a charity that touches the hearts of most people in the county and has saved thousands of lives in the 20 years it has been operating as a combined helicopter with Wiltshire Police.

The appeal gained royal approval in September when Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, became the charity’s first patron for a five-year period.

The air ambulance is funded entirely by donations from the public and needs to raise £500,000 a year to keep flying.

Dr Richard Riseley-Prichard, co-founder of the appeal and a retired RAF doctor and pilot, said: “It grew by word of mouth mostly due to the paramedics on the air ambulance.

“The Wiltshire Air Ambulance has an amazing history of community support.”

One such loyal supporter is Dot Whitehead, 78, of Westbury, who in the 11 years of running the Wiltshire Air Ambulance charity shop in Maristow Street, Westbury, has raised an incredible £1.2million for the appeal.

The shop, over two floors, is run by volunteers, and attracts customers from across the area.

Mrs Whitehead said: “We haven’t got a posh shop as we want to raise as much money for the appeal. The air ambulance is fantastic, it gives a tremendous service to the community. Nobody knows when they are going to need it.”

Another shop supporting the appeal opened in Devizes last year.

Many patients who have been flown by the air ambulance raise money for the appeal and have met the paramedic and crew who treated them.

Thousands of pounds are also raised for the appeal by annual events including the Castle Combe Steam Rally and the Bowood Dog Show.

Melanie Gee, the Wiltshire Air Ambulance appeal co-ordinator who lives in Corsham, said: “Lots of people have been helped by the air ambulance or know someone who has. Even in sad incidents where someone has tragically died, families will continue to support us because they know what a fantastic resource it is.”

When the joint police helicopter/air ambulance was launched in March 1990, it was funded initially by Swindon Health Authority after which the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Appeal was set up in 1993.

Even in the early days the appeal quickly became established.

The appeal office was initially based at Dorman House, Chippenham, the then headquarters of Wiltshire Ambulance Service, and donation cheques are still sent there. The appeal office is now at Jenner House, Chippenham, HQ of the Great Western Ambulance Service.

Last year the appeal received £987,077 and spent £771,271, both increases on the previous year.

The appeal spends in the region of £30,000 on administration costs which includes employing one full time and one part time member of staff, stationery, website and accountants’ costs.